Carving design for my Fordney project

[bioprof]

I sat down this morning and drew out the design for the carving on my Melchior Fordney project. I still have to do a little tweaking, but it is close to where I want it to be. Now the only thing left is the execution of the carving.

 

[agill]

The carving layout looks good bioprof. :thumbsup:

 

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, that looks real nice.

 

[mikemeteor]

Nice!
hope we can see some pics as you progress with carving - i could use the schoolin'!
/mm

 

[Allan Gray]

Very Nice! That's certainly headed to becoming an heirloom...looking foward to seeing more.

 

[JohnFH]

What book is that?
I want to try and do some stock carving and am lacking in period examples

 

[bioprof]

What book is that?
I want to try and do some stock carving and am lacking in period examples

The book that I found the pictures in is Kindig's "Thoughts on the Kentucky Rifle in it's Golden Age". It's a wonderful resource, but the pictures are black and white and don't always show the details that you need. The last time I checked it was still in print and sold for about $85. I picked up my copy off of eBay for much less.

A somewhat better reference for earlier rifles is Colonial Rifles of American Volumes I and II. The pictures are still in b&w, but are a little better than in Kindig's book. They retail for about $60 each.

 

[bioprof]

I got a little bit of carving done this week - I just work on it in short bursts when I feel well rested and don't have too much caffeine in my blood. So far the carving has gone well, with the exception of one small faux paux in the design. (Please don't look at the inletting gaps around the butt plate either).

I didn't have a gouge the right size to do the little chip carving accents, so I made one out of a piece of old hacksaw blade. It saved me a few bucks by not having to buy one.

 

[Zonie]

Ole' Melchior would be proud of you! :hatsoff:

If you get to following too closely in his footsteps, watch out for the nutty neighbor with the axe. :rotf:

 

[agill]

:thumbsup:

 

[Russ T Frizzen]

Tim, that is absolutely magnificent workmanship. Melchior himself would be proud!
Dan

 

[Capt. Fred]

Real nice work. Keep the pics coming.

 

[ricklandes]

Excellent!

 

[rich pierce]

Going to be a very fine rifle. Don't over-sweat the details in the carving, you've got good lines and the right depth, etc. Go ahead and stain and finish it! After staining you might want to rub some burnt umber pigment in the carving and wipe it off- makes it stand out.

 

[bioprof]

I'm still working on some details on the lower forestock. I have one side done, so I should be done with the carving by the end of the week. I can't believe how many little accents and details that Fordney used on some of his rifles.

 

[Tinker2]

:thumbsup:


Looks good to me.



Tinker2