Muzzleloader as art

[Shadowalker164]

Muzzleloader as art?

My son in law, an airborne ranger/ranger battalion (a real point of the spear guy) was visiting with my baby daughter and IMHO the most beautiful granddaughter on the planet. He knew I was building a couple of smoke poles, and asked to see what I was up to. I showed him my Pedersoli Bounty, and Kentucky long rifle and as he held them he said “This is a piece of art” I tend to agree. Before I began building them, I had always thought of early firearms as much art as a functional weapon. The builders of these 16th, 17th, and 18th century firearms clearly built them to function as what they are, firearms. But it seems to me that they gave as much, if not more thought to the aesthetics of their work. As an artist myself, I drool over the truly stunning beauty of their work. When I am building my muzzleloaders, I feel I am walking in the footsteps of giants. My attraction to these guns is first to their grace and beauty. My Kentucky rifle is long, slim and as graceful as a swans neck in flight. Form and function in perfect harmony. My second attraction is the creative anachronism of loading and firings them. The arcane art of powder, patch and shot. Just wondering if anybody else sees it that way?

 

[tenngun]

There are several guns in big museums in the art department

 

[Shadowalker164]

Just my point Tenngun, a firearm as fine art. Love that

 

[John Spartan]

I certainly do…and dote on them accordingly.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Some are art and some resemble a grade schoolers painting and are more utilitarian. Each has its place and I do appreciate my grandkids work even if it isn’t a Michelangelo.

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I have always enjoyed the mechanical and architectural beauty of traditional muzzleloaders…yes, to me, they are works of art.

 

[Johnny Tremain]

Most of the ones you see here are art.

 

[hanshi]

I got to attend an extended display of a collection of MLs built in Georgia down in my native Georgia (1970s). Actually more than once. The gold, silver, engraving and carving was unbelievable and I'd hesitate to even guess at the monetary value of this art.

 

[deermanok]

I find a certain romance, if you will, with muzzleloading guns.
The simple act of loading and shooting is in itself an art form.
Add to that the elegant beauty of these old arms is indeed art.

 

[Daryl Crawford]

They vary in form of art as much as painting (Renaissance, Romance, Realism), but some are a bit odd to my eye like cubism.

 

[Shadowalker164]

“They vary in form of art as much as painting (Renaissance, Romance, Realism),”
I think so, Daryl, in the early 20 century the Bau House school of industrial design began to influence all tools from claw hammers to firearms. Form following function closely. Modern firearms are distilled to the point that little can be removed from them without compromising their function. And little is added to these firearms that does support that core function. There is a beauty to tight adhesion to form following function, but my heart will always hold dear (Renaissance, Romance, Realism, and maybe a bit of Baroque.

 

[new2bp]

I am always impressed with excellent mechanical design even if wrapped in a very utilitarian package - look at the Garand or FN FAL as prime examples .

Some times fine mechanical design is presented with elegance and style - the Porsche 356 or the 912s thru the late 80s are examples of this

And sometimes even engineer and machinist types get an artistic streak and they end up producing utilitarian items wrapped as complete works of art. From fine wood to deep finishes and intricate engraving and inlay, these are really artists who choose an unusual piece of canvas

 

[Rifleman1776]

The very existence of this avocation is, IMHO, largely to preserve those talents and art. We are preserving the past. I include myself as a user of a couple beautiful rifles, not a maker.

 

[SOLANCO]

The rifle built for me by Cabin Creek is in this category. At some point Mr. Emig looked at it and said this gun is complete. There is nothing I can remove or add without diminishing it. Perhaps the long rifle is our equivalent of the traditional Japanese katana.
If I may digress, Tallpine's knives are in the same category.

 

[oldwood]

I went through a stage in my m/l rifle building , where a few High art rifles were copied from originals. My problem was finding someone to Pay for the time. I have no reason to want to be a famous builder , nor do I desire to have my own m/l gun museum. I love to test flint rifles , hold them , understand their heritage , find their strengths , and weaknesses. Once , my driving force to build them , was to find the best deer rifle for me to use. I think I found some fine rifles , but , age and infirmity has closed the book on that. (Almost any flint rifle of deer cal. , can kill a deer from a ladder stand , as I do now.). There is no more of a challenging , and fun sport , than hunting deer , on foot , one on one , with a flint rifle ,as our ancestors did to survive. Besides , I used to aggravate my wife , by working a sixty hour week , then go into the deer woods ,cold and snow , and bring back a large bloody animal , for her to package , and freeze , after I cut it up. I was raised on deer meat , and don't intend to quit now....oldwood

 

[Dude]

I think it's the aesthetics that hooked me on BP guns. Current weapons don't interest me - they're just not pretty.

 

[gunnyr]

I got hooked on muzzle loaders because they are old technology and I like all things
old. Old tools , old cooking utensils anything old. Hell even my wife still looks good.
gunny

 

[Shadowalker164]

I don’t own a modern weapon, with the exception of a 25 year old Benjamin Sheridan 177 pump with a 7x scope. Not a beauty, not even a runner up, but it is a rat’s one way ticket to the promised land. But if I might Dude… modern weapons are like a flint eyed hard a** woman, on a kick a** and take names mission. While any one of the long beauty’s we sport are like a warm smile and a ribbon in the hair, but with a fiery temper.

 

[Dude]

Like your comparison, Shadow. You might add, "...a flint eyed, hard a$$ woman who listens to rap and heavy metal, on a kick a$$ and take names mission."

Thankfully I don't need that kind of help.

I'm more into the cuddly longhaired beauty with a warm smile (even though she's a fiery redhead). (just gotta know how to treat em right!)

 

[Shadowalker164]

True, true