Found out how long forever is Couple more pics of finished tang carving

[Mike Brooks]

I've always loved that gun. It's got all that funky folk thing going on.

[Pukka Bundook]

You're doing a very grand job on that rifle, Mike!
My wood always looks filthy when I'm carving or inletting.  You must have Clean hands.

Had to laugh when someone said keep at it, and you might become a good maker some day!

[Richard]

When I first started into this journey of studying the American Long Rifle, I really didn't understand the art associated with the animal based carvings and engravings. The animal figures just seemed odd amongst an abundance of traditional scrolls and curves.
Honestly, at first I really didn't like the animal art.
But... the more I have studied, the more I have come to really like the peacocks, deer, bears, snakes, lions etc. My mind wonders what external influences the gun builders of the past faced, and what things in their lives influenced the art that they carved. Has anything ever been published focusing solely on the application of folk art on the ALR?
Anyhow, thanks for posting your work Mike, I can sincerely say that I really like it.
Richard

[Mike Brooks]

Just my own opinion but I believe they were getting stuff like this directly from illustrated 18th century bibles. You see stuff exactly  like this painted on the ceilings of  16th-18th century Jewish synagogues.

[Mike Brooks]

A few more pics, all the carving is set in, just a bit of clean up, especially around the dark brown area that is the inevitable repair.... Kind of hard to see until all this gets stained.







russian photo sharing

[Craig Wilcox]

Quite envious, Mike, of both your artistic abilities and your wood and metal work.  Almost makes we wish I had become a flintlock maker instead of a wetlands and wildlife biologist.

Nah - I like food on the table, and would have been living under a bridge, carving gunstocks with a worn-out Barlow knife.

Would have starved with my talent!  Thus happy you found your niche in such an interesting field.

[Mike Brooks]

Quite envious, Mike, of both your artistic abilities and your wood and metal work.  Almost makes we wish I had become a flintlock maker instead of a wetlands and wildlife biologist.

Nah - I like food on the table, and would have been living under a bridge, carving gunstocks with a worn-out Barlow knife.

Would have starved with my talent!  Thus happy you found your niche in such an interesting field.

If I had a choice I would have chosen to be in the wetlands and wildlife biologist field. Far more profitable and much better retirement than building guns. I'll never be rich, but I occasionally get tremendous satisfaction from what I do. What I shoulda done was had a whole pack of kids so they could take care of  me in my old age.....

[bob in the woods]

" so they could take care of me in my old age "       Now, that's funny.  Pure nostalgia .....today, it's the other way around 

[Craig Wilcox]

Well, it was true enough that my chosen field was profitable.  But then 2008 came along and blew me out of the water.
Kids caring for people in their old age doesn't happen anymore.  But they did move me to Ohio "to be closer to all of them".  Three kids, 12 grandkids, 6 great grandkids.  And saw them more often in Oklahoma!
But, compared to OK, the VA here is outstanding, and I have had some serious medical things to cope with.
For all the money that I made as a biologist, I now live in 1/3 of a 3-car garage.  Well insulated, but NO running water or cooking apparatus.
I am making progress on the various guns I am building, slow but sure.  And enjoying the education that you, and many others, are providing.  Thanks for all the help!

[axelp]

Actually it DOES happen sometimes. I know of a few young people that are caring for, or planning to care for older loved ones. But I doubt they would be doing it if they did not have an older example to learn from and follow. If someone taught them and exampled that kind of thing, the odds are better that they too will follow suit. I was a selfish rotten kid, but when there is need, people change and do what needs doing.

As an example, my grandparents took care of their parents, and my parents took care of their parents, and low and behold my wife and I are involved in taking care of our parents right now. And my adult son and daughter have seen all this, and at least of this writing,  I feel that they will be there for my wife and I in our time of need. My family heritage is not without plenty of discord and disfunction. We dont all get along all the time, nor are any of us particularly wonderful people, but exampled behavior is a strong thing. When it was our time to step up, we just started doing what was needed. And surprises of surprises, it kinda feels good to do it. 15 years ago, I never would have believed I would be writing this though...

[Mike Lyons]

If I had a choice I would have chosen to be in the wetlands and wildlife biologist field. Far more profitable and much better retirement than building guns. I'll never be rich, but I occasionally get tremendous satisfaction from what I do. What I shoulda done was had a whole pack of kids so they could take care of  me in my old age.....

I think you’re being delusional, but you’ve given me advice so, I’ll do my best to help you out.  Start over fresh.   You’re never too old to have more kids.  I have 6 of them ranging from 25 to 4.  Just think of all the happiness of a baby crying and 2 or 3 toddlers running around while you’re trying to work.  Decisions, decisions.

[Craig Wilcox]

Mike, officially asking permission to use some of your carving design ideas.

[Mike Brooks]

Mike, officially asking permission to use some of your carving design ideas.

Go for it, there are no copy rights in this business!

[Mike Brooks]

If I had a choice I would have chosen to be in the wetlands and wildlife biologist field. Far more profitable and much better retirement than building guns. I'll never be rich, but I occasionally get tremendous satisfaction from what I do. What I shoulda done was had a whole pack of kids so they could take care of  me in my old age.....

I think you’re being delusional, but you’ve given me advice so, I’ll do my best to help you out.  Start over fresh.   You’re never too old to have more kids.  I have 6 of them ranging from 25 to 4.  Just think of all the happiness of a baby crying and 2 or 3 toddlers running around while you’re trying to work.  Decisions, decisions.

I'm hoping my brother's two young teen age boys take an interest in me when I get old, so far their parents don't let them around me much because I say $#*& and dam and drink adult beverages.

[Stoner creek]

They’re going to learn that language one way or another. Why not let them learn a craft from a master at the same @!*% time?

[Dennis Glazener]

Mike, officially asking permission to use some of your carving design ideas.

Go for it, there are no copy rights in this business!

Wrong, actuately there is, need not discuss here but ever ones design work is under copyright as soon as you finish it, assuming it's not an exact copy of someone else's work. http://m.artbusiness.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.artbusiness.com%2Fregister_and_copyright_art_for_artists.html&utm_referrer=#2873
Dennis

[Robert Wolfe]

Dennis - that link comes up as "forbidden" for me?

[Dennis Glazener]

Dennis - that link comes up as "forbidden" for me?

Robert,Works fine for me. Will PM you thevtext.
Dennis

[Joey R]

Forbidden for me as well.

[Stoner creek]

That big guy from Kentucky would like to see an update on this gun!

[Mike Brooks]

That big guy from Kentucky would like to see an update on this gun!

She's getting close Wayne. I drilled that long hinge knuckle for the hinge pin yesterday. By some miracle it came out perfect. Now I'm polishing out the box and have to make a catch spring and latch for it. The wood is all done and waiting for stain and finish. Won't be long now! (That's what the little dog said when the train ran over his tail....)

[Wayne Holcombe]

How did you drill the hinge and what size pin did you use.

[Mike Brooks]

1/8" pin. Did it on centers on my drill press like you would for a tang bolt. Drilled till I ran out of throw on both ends and then went by eye ball with a hand held electric drill and meet perfectly in the middle.

[Wayne Holcombe]

That's how I figured to do it.I'll let you know when I've got it done.

[DICKH]

        How many Lion and Lamb rifles are known?

        James Johnston in his book Accouterments shows one that was found in England along with
a 1776 Pennsylvania frock coat.Sometime in its life a bayonet was added.

Richard Henderson