Here is what $20,000 or so of Engraving Looks like - Page 2

hogdogs · June 10, 2009, 09:38 AM

That dog in the B&W image is LOW GRADE as far as realistic and detail. The one your buddy did is incredible, both the head and full dogs.
Brent

Ruger4570 · June 10, 2009, 11:48 AM

Hey Wild.... next time you talk to your engraver ask him how he feels about doing some work for me,,, I am thinking $20.00 bills would be a good start..

Skans · June 10, 2009, 01:39 PM

Now that is some exceptional engraving!! Did you guys notice the level of detail in the background surrounding the dog? The knot and bark on the tree, the barbed wire fence, not to mention how lifelike the engraving of the dog is.

Thanks for the great pictures.

stephen426 · June 10, 2009, 02:05 PM

Thats incredible! Absolutely amazing piece of art! I sure as heck couldn't bring myself to shoot a gun like that though!

Mr. James · June 10, 2009, 03:56 PM

I'm such a vulgarian engraving has never done much for me . . . but that is just breathtaking. Simply stunning.

James R. Burke · June 10, 2009, 04:37 PM

Fantastic what else can you say. I know I will never have a gun that nice, but glad someone can.

fawcettlee · June 10, 2009, 06:07 PM

WOW!

Ruger4570 · June 10, 2009, 10:03 PM

Just for kicks, I just looked at my Browning Grade VI with the gold work and engraving. The Browning doesn't even come CLOSE to that engraving you showed pics of, not even in the same park.
That man has talent. Just check the scrolls, they are perfectly symetrical, no out of round cuts. I really have to admire this guy because, there is no putting steel back on a bad cut and doing it over.

**Bud Helms** · June 11, 2009, 08:22 AM

You know, it strikes me that the artistic aspect of this piece is a byproduct of the technical skill. Just my opinion. The details specifically mentioned by Skans make me wonder if this is not a once in a lifetime achievement even by the engraver's standards.

Very special. This could be the only one of these that will ever exist.

Housezealot · June 11, 2009, 08:40 AM

That is absolutly beautiful, But just to play devils advocate, while we are drooling over an engraving job, does that set us close to the mall ninja's that dress up their tacticool stuff for looks

Just kidding! I did resist the urge to tell you nice "shotty"

Wildalaska · June 11, 2009, 08:41 AM

Quote:

You know, it strikes me that the artistic aspect of this piece is a byproduct of the technical skill. Just my opinion. The details specifically mentioned by Skans make me wonder if this is not a once in a lifetime achievement even by the engraver's standards.

Very special. This could be the only one of these that will ever exist.

As to this design.......absolutely.

As to the once in a lifetime...wait for the photos of the SAA pair I will be posting

WildoyeahAlaska TM

flight954 · June 11, 2009, 10:31 AM

Very nice work. 20 large or so

Dingoboyx · June 11, 2009, 10:39 AM

Imagine how many guns I could buy for $20k?

Imagine if the engraver made a mistake with the last little bit?

Wildalaska · June 11, 2009, 01:20 PM

Here's a note I got from Jim this morning:

"Thanks for all the appreciative posts. Engraving is not for everyone and maybe even not for all guns. My own mint 70 Series Colt Gold Cup and conversion kit has only sambar grips added and is uncut. I have plans on almost all other firearms I own, but for some reason I can't bring myself to break its lovely surface (I might buy another Gold Cup and cut it!). I ended up building my own firearms and eventually entered engraving because I couldn't afford my own tastes for beautiful guns (I build my first rifle stock at age 17). I don't go to art museums, but I'd walk a few miles to see fine engraving.

We Americans with our Second Amendment freedoms have been fortunate to not be restricted in the amount of firearms we possess (I pray this may continue). Europe has had strict control for many years and thus sprung the drillings and various combination guns so one firearm could do several tasks. It was natural that since one could own a single firearm that it be heavily decorated. Most of Americans would rather have ten firearms than put that same amount of money into a single one. Still, there are some who would prefer to own one of the finest than ten straight from a factory (I cannot look at a single factory firearm without visioning some change to it). Buyers choice.

I've been engraving since 1983 (part time until 1992), but evidently thousands of hours of cutting and thousands of hours studying other engraver's work (both in past and present) must have coalesced about nine years ago (I guess you could call me slow). It seems in looking critically at my own work, there was a quantum leap in my engraving quality, and I did my first bulino at that time. The other skills must have spilled over, because that first effort on a pocket watch won top place at the National Association of Watch Collectors show in New Orleans.

The comment about technical skill being revealed in the 21 is correct. That particular pattern demands it heavily because there are large areas where the pattern mirrors itself on the opposite side, which can be seen and instantly compared (top tang, top of receiver for example). This is time consuming in both layout and cutting. I believe part of this particular gun's charm comes from symmetry.

When Howard Carter broke into King Tut's tomb, Lord Carnavon asked him if he saw anything. His answer was "Yes, I see wonderful things!" If allowed by the Big Guy Upstairs, I hope to continue to improve and get better. I too, see wonderful things. There are a handful of engravers who are given a commission with no stipulation as to time or cost. I have yet to receive such, so remain convinced I have yet to do my finest work. I could live another lifetime and still not get all the engraving projects I want to do done!

Jim White "

I personally wish I had the money to tell him to go to town

I have to content myself with a lightly done High Power

I have two more guns to show you guys, give me a few to get organized

WildilovethisstuffAlaska ™

Skans · June 11, 2009, 01:40 PM

Compared to what some of the top Italian engravers get for their work, $20K for this engraving is actually cheap. Thing is, if this engraver continues to turn out work like that, you are making one heck of a good investment.

Creature · June 11, 2009, 01:50 PM

Wild, your blue blood is showing...

Its one thing to look at this engraving of this caliber...but to actually own it and shoot it is something entirely different. Isnt it?

fawcettlee · June 11, 2009, 10:16 PM

This gun needs to be photographed for a poster or something.

imthegrumpyone · June 12, 2009, 04:22 AM

It's "Breathless" awesome job

protectedbyglock · June 14, 2009, 09:27 PM

That is absolutely stunning, Wildman!
I bet you get a rush just holding it...

Skans · August 31, 2009, 04:36 PM

I remembered seeing this post with the exceptional engraving.....I just had to dig it up and look at it again.

saltydog452 · August 31, 2009, 04:55 PM

I wonder how a mistake is corrected??

salty

**Bud Helms** · August 31, 2009, 05:27 PM

Very funny.

MLeake · August 31, 2009, 06:07 PM

but those are really nice, WA. I'm not sure how he managed to put so much detail in there without making them look tacky to me, but he did. That really takes some skill.

Wildalaska · August 31, 2009, 06:58 PM

The guns have been blued by Turnbull and I wioll get p[htos up shortly

WildswampedAlaska ™

fawcettlee · January 18, 2011, 01:33 AM

You mentioned other guns.

June 10, 2009, 02:05 PM	#29
stephen426 Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Posts: 3,840	Thats incredible! Absolutely amazing piece of art! I sure as heck couldn't bring myself to shoot a gun like that though! __________________ The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!

June 10, 2009, 03:56 PM	#30
Mr. James Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2001 Location: The Old Dominion Posts: 1,521	I'm such a vulgarian engraving has never done much for me . . . but that is just breathtaking. Simply stunning. __________________ "...A humble and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." Ps. li "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing his respect for the law." —Frederic Bastiat

June 10, 2009, 06:07 PM	#32
fawcettlee Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2005 Posts: 114	Redundant at this point but, WOW!

June 11, 2009, 08:40 AM	#35
Housezealot Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 606	That is absolutly beautiful, But just to play devils advocate, while we are drooling over an engraving job, does that set us close to the mall ninja's that dress up their tacticool stuff for looks Just kidding! I did resist the urge to tell you nice "shotty" __________________ We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

June 11, 2009, 10:39 AM	#38
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Amazing Imagine how many guns I could buy for $20k? Imagine if the engraver made a mistake with the last little bit? __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

June 10, 2009, 09:38 AM	#26
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	That dog in the B&W image is LOW GRADE as far as realistic and detail. The one your buddy did is incredible, both the head and full dogs. Brent

June 10, 2009, 11:48 AM	#27
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	Hey Wild.... next time you talk to your engraver ask him how he feels about doing some work for me,,, I am thinking $20.00 bills would be a good start..

June 10, 2009, 01:39 PM	#28
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Now that is some exceptional engraving!! Did you guys notice the level of detail in the background surrounding the dog? The knot and bark on the tree, the barbed wire fence, not to mention how lifelike the engraving of the dog is. Thanks for the great pictures.

June 10, 2009, 04:37 PM	#31
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	Fantastic what else can you say. I know I will never have a gun that nice, but glad someone can.

June 10, 2009, 10:03 PM	#33
Ruger4570 Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2005 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 2,136	Just for kicks, I just looked at my Browning Grade VI with the gold work and engraving. The Browning doesn't even come CLOSE to that engraving you showed pics of, not even in the same park. That man has talent. Just check the scrolls, they are perfectly symetrical, no out of round cuts. I really have to admire this guy because, there is no putting steel back on a bad cut and doing it over.

June 11, 2009, 08:22 AM	#34
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	You know, it strikes me that the artistic aspect of this piece is a byproduct of the technical skill. Just my opinion. The details specifically mentioned by Skans make me wonder if this is not a once in a lifetime achievement even by the engraver's standards. Very special. This could be the only one of these that will ever exist.

June 11, 2009, 10:31 AM	#37
flight954 Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2006 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 933	Very nice work. 20 large or so

June 11, 2009, 01:20 PM	#39
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	Here's a note I got from Jim this morning: "Thanks for all the appreciative posts. Engraving is not for everyone and maybe even not for all guns. My own mint 70 Series Colt Gold Cup and conversion kit has only sambar grips added and is uncut. I have plans on almost all other firearms I own, but for some reason I can't bring myself to break its lovely surface (I might buy another Gold Cup and cut it!). I ended up building my own firearms and eventually entered engraving because I couldn't afford my own tastes for beautiful guns (I build my first rifle stock at age 17). I don't go to art museums, but I'd walk a few miles to see fine engraving. We Americans with our Second Amendment freedoms have been fortunate to not be restricted in the amount of firearms we possess (I pray this may continue). Europe has had strict control for many years and thus sprung the drillings and various combination guns so one firearm could do several tasks. It was natural that since one could own a single firearm that it be heavily decorated. Most of Americans would rather have ten firearms than put that same amount of money into a single one. Still, there are some who would prefer to own one of the finest than ten straight from a factory (I cannot look at a single factory firearm without visioning some change to it). Buyers choice. I've been engraving since 1983 (part time until 1992), but evidently thousands of hours of cutting and thousands of hours studying other engraver's work (both in past and present) must have coalesced about nine years ago (I guess you could call me slow). It seems in looking critically at my own work, there was a quantum leap in my engraving quality, and I did my first bulino at that time. The other skills must have spilled over, because that first effort on a pocket watch won top place at the National Association of Watch Collectors show in New Orleans. The comment about technical skill being revealed in the 21 is correct. That particular pattern demands it heavily because there are large areas where the pattern mirrors itself on the opposite side, which can be seen and instantly compared (top tang, top of receiver for example). This is time consuming in both layout and cutting. I believe part of this particular gun's charm comes from symmetry. When Howard Carter broke into King Tut's tomb, Lord Carnavon asked him if he saw anything. His answer was "Yes, I see wonderful things!" If allowed by the Big Guy Upstairs, I hope to continue to improve and get better. I too, see wonderful things. There are a handful of engravers who are given a commission with no stipulation as to time or cost. I have yet to receive such, so remain convinced I have yet to do my finest work. I could live another lifetime and still not get all the engraving projects I want to do done! Jim White " I personally wish I had the money to tell him to go to town I have to content myself with a lightly done High Power I have two more guns to show you guys, give me a few to get organized WildilovethisstuffAlaska ™

June 11, 2009, 01:40 PM	#40
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	Compared to what some of the top Italian engravers get for their work, $20K for this engraving is actually cheap. Thing is, if this engraver continues to turn out work like that, you are making one heck of a good investment.

June 11, 2009, 01:50 PM	#41
Creature Junior member Join Date: April 8, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,769	Wild, your blue blood is showing... Its one thing to look at this engraving of this caliber...but to actually own it and shoot it is something entirely different. Isnt it?

June 11, 2009, 10:16 PM	#42
fawcettlee Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2005 Posts: 114	I keep coming back to it. This gun needs to be photographed for a poster or something.

June 12, 2009, 04:22 AM	#43
imthegrumpyone Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2007 Location: spring tx Posts: 1,037	It's "Breathless" awesome job __________________ chambered and unlocked

June 14, 2009, 09:27 PM	#44
protectedbyglock Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2006 Location: PA Posts: 470	That is absolutely stunning, Wildman! I bet you get a rush just holding it... __________________ "Reach out your hand if your cup be empty. If your cup be full, let it be again. Let it be known, there is a fountain, that was not made by the hands of men"

August 31, 2009, 04:36 PM	#45
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,132	I remembered seeing this post with the exceptional engraving.....I just had to dig it up and look at it again.

August 31, 2009, 04:55 PM	#46
saltydog452 Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2004 Posts: 516	I wonder how a mistake is corrected?? salty

August 31, 2009, 05:27 PM	#47
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	Very funny.

August 31, 2009, 06:07 PM	#48
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	I usually dislike engraving on guns and blades but those are really nice, WA. I'm not sure how he managed to put so much detail in there without making them look tacky to me, but he did. That really takes some skill.

August 31, 2009, 06:58 PM	#49
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	The guns have been blued by Turnbull and I wioll get p[htos up shortly WildswampedAlaska ™

January 18, 2011, 01:33 AM	#50
fawcettlee Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2005 Posts: 114	Any updates? You mentioned other guns.