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Author Topic: Finished a Rifle  (Read 14697 times)

Offline Mark Elliott

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Finished a Rifle
« on: August 06, 2009, 10:53:08 AM »
I am finally getting back on my feet (knock on wood) and am starting to finish up some projects including this rifle that I have been picking at for over two years.   Let me know what you think.

The judges at Dixon's tore it to pieces, so you can't hurt my feelings much more.

It is my interpretation of a 1775-1785 Augusta/Rockbridge VA rifle.

Mark E.










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Offline Rolf

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2009, 11:10:46 AM »
If they tore that to pices :o, I don't think I'd ever dare to enter any of work.

Best regards

Rolfkt
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Bob Mac

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2009, 12:22:34 PM »
I'll second that. I can only hope my current project turns out half that nice. Very good looking gun.
Bob
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Offline Lucky R A

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2009, 01:15:02 PM »
Hey Mark,    It is nice to see you getting back to your old self, good to have you back.   Your rifle style is different from what the judges normally see.  It may have been judged by person(s) not familiar with the school that your gun was built to reflect.   It looks like fine work as did your previous efforts.  Remember the more that you do on a gun the more they have to find fault with and lose you points.  A well done plain gun will often win over an elaborate gun with some errors in really difficult work.   Good work, hope you can continue...   Ron
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Offline duca

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2009, 02:15:53 PM »
WOW really nice man. good luck with it. :)
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Birddog6

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #5 on: August 06, 2009, 02:21:11 PM »
Quote
  The judges at Dixon's tore it to pieces, so you can't hurt my feelings much more.  Mark E. 
Quote

Who cares what they think, as long as YOU like it.    It is a beautiful rifle.   ;)

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Offline Rick Sheets

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2009, 02:34:05 PM »
I really like the bold, simple and deep engraving on the patchbox. It compliments the rest of the boldness of the carving. The "pie crust" treatment on the scroll (cheekside) is beautiful. That is a wonderful rifle. Rick
« Last Edit: August 06, 2009, 02:38:45 PM by Rick Sheets »
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Offline Don Getz

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #7 on: August 06, 2009, 03:01:49 PM »
Mark.....it was good to see you at Dixon's, glad to see that you are back at the bench again.   It can be good therapy, for
almost any condition.   I agree with what Ron said above, if it falls out of the realm of a "Pennsylvania/Kentucky" rifle, it
may not get great judging.  I am not familiar with the guns you are copying so it's a little difficult to evaluate them.  As
Ron said, the  more elaborate the gun gets, the more areas they have to be critical of......I guess that is why I have regressed to barn guns.................Don
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Mike R

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #8 on: August 06, 2009, 03:07:02 PM »
Never been to Dixon's, so I cannot comment on their criteria, but to my eyes that is a beautiful rifle.  I love the lines of it--I bet it feels right in the hands. Nice work!
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Online Collector

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #9 on: August 06, 2009, 04:18:51 PM »
Mark,  I like the looks and lines of your new piece.  I wouldn't worry too much about the judges at Dixons.  I think that the greatest satisfaction is derived by the builder when he's satisfied that he's done the best work that he's capable of.  Well done.  Great to have you back and to see you posting again.  Gaylord
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eagle24

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2009, 05:03:19 PM »
Beautifull rifle Mark.  I really like your work.  I've been on your website sevaral times looking at the SW VA rifle you built as well.  It's one of my favorites.
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Daryl

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #11 on: August 06, 2009, 05:07:18 PM »
I find that rifle to be quite beautiful, Mark and one I'd like to shoot. The design suits me.
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Offline Dphariss

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2009, 05:16:24 PM »
OOPs almost put my foot in "it" again. Erased about 300 words....
I will say this.... No better not say that either.... :-X
Sigh.
I might want to enter a gun some day.
Probably have to put someone else's name on it though.
 ;D
Dan
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2009, 05:27:38 PM »
Splendid workmanship and design Mark.  I know how you feel regarding arguably unfair constructive evaluation.  In my case I did not provide documentation, thinking that surely the judges would know the rifle I was emulating.  I didn't learn anything from their critique, and scored poorly.  But the bottom line for us is the satisfaction we get from the build and the positive reinforcement of our peers - and that is enough - in fact, everything.

Great rifle, and thanks for posting.
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Offline rich pierce

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2009, 05:41:50 PM »
Great to see you back, Mark.  Many aspects of the gun are spectacular!  not just good!
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Offline Swampwalker

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #15 on: August 06, 2009, 05:42:49 PM »
I really enjoy your "wiggle scroll" behind the cheekpiece (or whatever you call it), and that you left tool marks on the scrolls - gives it an un-fussed over, honest look.  I also like your chip work on the carving around the breech - looks like it was a p.i.t.a. to do, though!
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Offline Roger Fisher

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #16 on: August 06, 2009, 05:52:20 PM »
Mark: Nice talking to you at Chuck's.  I'm wondering though why we stood there comparing ops and medications???   Shoulda woulda coulda spent more time on the reasons we were there...

Your rifle is a fine piece of work and no way could I even approach it's beauty.

The judges are exactly that judges and have their own ideas of what is right and what is not. 

I'm going to suggest that you post a print of your 'report' card on that fine rifle...
Just to see how far off from our minds the judges were on that one!

Traditional or contemporary??
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Offline Tim Crosby

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #17 on: August 06, 2009, 06:04:20 PM »
 Looks like a great interpretation of a 1775-1785 Augusta/Rockbridge VA rifle to me. Hope things will continue to improve and we will see more.

 Tim C.
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tiger955

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #18 on: August 06, 2009, 06:06:23 PM »
that is a sweet looking rifle, but here is a novice question for you.... Is the barrel and the lock left "in-the-white" or are they stainless? I love the look
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Offline TPH

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #19 on: August 06, 2009, 06:36:43 PM »
Mark, I am glad to see you back. That is a beautiful rifle, very fine work and you have no reason to feel badly about what the judges said, remember they are just expressing opinions - everyone has one. Very few people have the understanding of that school that you do, keep it up.
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Offline Doug Cline

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #20 on: August 06, 2009, 07:19:51 PM »
Mark, glad to hear you're doing better, I really like the look and style of this rifle, great lines, looks to me like you did a great job of capturing the style you were going for.
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Offline Telgan

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #21 on: August 06, 2009, 07:22:55 PM »
Beautiful workmanship and design Mark. I hope we will see you and this piece at the CLA this year. I wonder if it might be entertaining for us if you and Taylor were to post some of the critique you got from the judges at Dixons. Perhaps that would border on the negative. Glad to hear you are getting back on your feet. All the Best, Tom
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J.D.

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #22 on: August 06, 2009, 10:56:09 PM »
Well, the judges must have been...er...ah...visually impaired...to tear that one apart.

Personally I like it allot.
Very nice work.
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Offline Mark Elliott

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #23 on: August 06, 2009, 11:45:04 PM »
Taylor, your work was way better than mine and I think you were robbed.   I looked over your rifle as best I could behind the chicken wire and I could find not one fault with it.  I thought that your rifle was the best one at Dixons.   

As for me, I really wasn't angling for sympathy over the judging at Dixon's.  I just wanted an honest appraisal of my work from those who might know somthing about the original work that I was trying to recreate.   I did ask Bill Shipman to go over the gun with me after the judging and he was helpful. 

I know the carving and, particularly, the engraving needs work.   My only solace is that it is not much worse than the original.  My engraving improved significantly(at least, I think so) from the patchbox to the lock.  I did, intentionally, leave the work a little rough trying to build in a workmanlike manner.   I don't' know whether I left things too rough or not.  The judges at Dixon's certainly thought that I did.   I did struggle with how much I should try to finish things and how much to leave "as is". 

Mark E.

   
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Offline tallbear

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Re: Finished a Rifle
« Reply #24 on: August 06, 2009, 11:54:39 PM »
Mark
Enjoyed talking to you at Dixons.I saw the rifle on the table at Dixons and thought it was yours.Don't care what the judges think I liked it!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch
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