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Author Topic: Faire Gonne  (Read 13252 times)

Offline Acer Saccharum

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Faire Gonne
« on: December 19, 2009, 07:26:38 PM »
This is one of those projects that evolved over time, and is now approaching its conclusion.

This gun was my 'Demo gun", for use at county fairs and gunbuilding demonstrations, hence Fair Gun. This started with a piece of wood that I could barely get a stock out of, rot on one side, and bark on the other.

It has Reaves guard and buttplate, Chambers Early Germanic,  a 31" x .62 cal barrel marked MHRW. I took some of the muzzle flare off, it was as big as the breech (1 3/16). Handmade patchbox,  thimbles and sideplate. The idea here is that the gun was originally made with a sliding wooden cover, but somewhere down the road the owner had the lid replaced with a 'en vogue' metal patchbox, hence the filler in the BP, which also retains the PB spring.

The decoration is a bit PennDutch, which you don't often see. This is going out on a limb, I believe, because I have not seen much carving like this on rifles from the mid 18th Cent. Actually, there are not that many rifles surviving at all from that time period. If this gun were to be compared to writing, it would be historical fiction.

This gun was tremendously fun, as I was not concerned with making things perfect. I wanted well done, I wanted workmanlike, I wanted utilitarian with some embellishment, but not perfect. So this was an exercise in having fun, and letting go of mistakes, and seeing how it all comes together.  I hope you enjoy. I sure did.

Tom















« Last Edit: December 19, 2009, 08:48:15 PM by Acer Saccharum »
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Offline B.Habermehl

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2009, 07:48:33 PM »
WHAT mistakes? I guess you will have to send it to my house so no one will see them. ;)  I like the folk art feel. Really neat gun  BJH
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Offline RobertS

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2009, 08:03:28 PM »
That's very cool!!!
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Ionian

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2009, 08:13:09 PM »
You guys constantly amaze me. I am sorry to say Tom that I like this one better then the Jaeger. Beautiful rifle!
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Offline smart dog

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2009, 08:27:28 PM »
Hi Tom,
I would rather have that gun in my arsenal than many of the profusely carved and inlaid "totem" poles out there.  It is Wabi Sabi to the core.  Thanks for sharing.

dave
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2009, 08:32:01 PM »
I am sorry to say I like this better than the jaeger, too. It's a gift to be able to do the technical stuff, but this particular gun has such a wonderful feel, it's like holding a bird or fish, it is very streamlined and lively. This gun handles, points, and carries so naturally. I have captured something without setting out to do it. One of those mystical things. I guess this is why I like the American rifle so much.

The jaeger is a study for American pieces, rifles such as this one. I am so very excited about this time period, the era of the early 18th Cent American gun. I want to make more along these lines.

I have to say that Eric Kettenburg has been a great influence on my work. I like how he thinks, how he writes, and builds.
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Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2009, 08:33:56 PM »
Tom, I think your rifle is entirely believable in historical context - fictional or otherwise.  The proportions of metal and wood have much validity.  Together with great wood, stain, finish, carving and workmanship, you've created a very nice early to mid 18th century hunting rifle.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2009, 08:35:31 PM by D. Taylor Sapergia »
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Offline Tim Crosby

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2009, 09:10:47 PM »
 Acer that is really neat looking, I like the batch box update idea. Nice job.

 Tim C.
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Offline Roger Fisher

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2009, 10:10:40 PM »
Ok. Ok so you built a nice rifle ::)

Sweet for a carry in the bush hunting rifle! ;D

Gotta tell ya young fella that raised tulip head looks to my old eyes as quite sexy and the object of many a young man's desire. Hmmmm or am I hallucinating again?

You bringing her along to Lewisburg in Feb?.  I'd love to 'handle' her..! ;) :D
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Offline Ben I. Voss

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2009, 10:15:20 PM »
I will have to second all of the above - very nifty piece, Tom!!
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Offline Don Getz

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2009, 10:33:55 PM »
Tom.....not too bad.   How did that oak, or is it hemlock, carve?   Sorry, just had to do that....you had one coming.   Wait
till you see the gun I built about 20 years ago....english sporting rifle, Schippers engraving.    Sold it about 15 years ago
and I just got it back.   I forgot how good it really was.   Will show it to you at Lewisburg.........Don
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flintman-tx

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2009, 03:08:35 AM »
I LIKES IT !!!!
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Offline tallbear

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2009, 04:27:42 AM »
Tom
Neat looking gun.I like the overall look of it.What's the stain and finish?For some reason I can't help  thinking of the man eating plant from the Little Shop of Horrors though ;D ;D ;D

Mitch
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2009, 05:10:01 AM »
Thanks for all your very kind remarks, gentlemen.

Stain, AF, and sealed with shellac then EK's boiled linseed oil. Still several coats to go for complete finish, but I can safely fire this pup now. The top coats have some burnt umber mixed in, to dirty up the finish.

The carving elements were garnered from PA Dutch designs, then run through my sketchbook, then translated to wood. I think the first dated PA Dutch art is around 1760 or 70, but I believe the tulip in use before that in America, having come from Germany.

Thanks again for your kind words.

Tom

BTW, Little Shop of Horrors was a PA Dutch script.
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Offline Brian

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2009, 06:05:40 AM »
Most cool indeed Tom!  What  you pass off as "fun to do" is a dream I will likely never realize!  ;D

Super job my friend!  Beautiful work.
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Offline B Shipman

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #15 on: December 20, 2009, 08:06:37 AM »
The carving is right on . Like it all.
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #16 on: December 20, 2009, 05:15:59 PM »
No one commented on how close the entry thimble is to the lock. Hmmm. Must not be a mistake, then. ;D

Tom
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Offline Ben I. Voss

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #17 on: December 20, 2009, 05:24:40 PM »
I think the nearness of the entry pipe to the trigger guard gives it sort of a quaint look and also makes it look much longer overall. And heck, we just thought you knew what you were doing!
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Offline tallbear

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #18 on: December 20, 2009, 05:34:22 PM »
Tom with the short barrel I think it looks fine.I think on the Shenandoah rifle I made the entry is 8" in front of the lock and that has a 43" barrel.To my eye yours looks just fine!!!

Mitch
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Online rich pierce

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #19 on: December 20, 2009, 05:55:49 PM »
Quote from: Acer Saccharum on December 20, 2009, 05:15:59 PM
No one commented on how close the entry thimble is to the lock. Hmmm. Must not be a mistake, then. ;D

Tom

Umm, somebody might have mentioned it offline. ::)

Looks great; love the patchbox being plain.
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Offline Tom Currie

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #20 on: December 20, 2009, 06:08:52 PM »
I like your carving also. There's talent in doing something different that still looks like it belongs there. Not easy to pull off. You did. 
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #21 on: December 20, 2009, 07:25:01 PM »
The consensus is that it's not a mistake. OK, then, I meant to do it that way, and it looks great! I'm off the hook!  ;D

I actually, in the heat of the moment, cut it in there, and then looked at what I'd done, and said, oh, $#@*. Now what? Do I junk the gun, do I patch a piece in(and make it look like a repair), or go with what I got. Lots of panic tinged options went by before I decided to work with what I had. The entry pipe is a bit unusual, as there is very little transition from the shape of the fore stock to fore grip.

In the end, I went with what I'd done, and I have to say, I am happy with it.
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Offline tallbear

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #22 on: December 20, 2009, 07:32:28 PM »
Tom
Mistakes are certainly historically correct!!I'm sure a lot of the quirky details that we love in the originals were the result of ah sh@#$%^  moments ;) ;) ;)

Mitch
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Offline Acer Saccharum

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #23 on: December 20, 2009, 07:49:35 PM »
I unwittingly recreated an historically correct "Ah Sh&$#-#^*" moment!  :D
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Ionian

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Re: Faire Gonne
« Reply #24 on: December 20, 2009, 08:48:51 PM »
Tom, does the rifle balance behind the entry thimble, and how far forward of the lock plate is it?

I still think the rifle looks great. ;D
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