Animal Engraving On a Double Rifle

[rookhawk]

Very cool. The hardest part of choosing my first double is there are so many nice doubles to choose from. To complicate matters further, I learn about Kipling style engraving (Kipling is a childhood hero of mine.)
Got to keep saving my shekels.

Just remember that Kipling engraving was popular during a particular era. That era didn’t have steel sufficient for modern monometal solid bullets. So don’t buy a largebore 470 or 500 in this style as it is limited utility. But a 450-400 for Buffalo, or a 303 double small bore? Yes please!

 

[ET1775]

Just remember that Kipling engraving was popular during a particular era. That era didn’t have steel sufficient for modern monometal solid bullets. So don’t buy a largebore 470 or 500 in this style as it is limited utility. But a 450-400 for Buffalo, or a 303 double small bore? Yes please!

I learn something new every day!

 

[Pole Pole]

I’m intrigued by the warthog theme. Maybe an engraving of a pack of warthogs at the base of a thorn tree with a ele or lion clinging for dear life in the top. Have some jumping and trying to climb the tree like a pack of hounds. On the other side, grass skirt wearing warthogs complete with face paint and spears, dancing circles around a kettle holding our favorite helmeted PH or hunter. ANY IDEAS on who that should be?

 

[ET1775]

There are 2 Towns here in the Upper Peninsula along the rail.
Rudyard & Kipling.
The Superintendent of the DSS&A Railway long ago had the privilege to name 2 Towns in this Forsaken Land. After his favorite Writer.

Go nowhere story, sorry.
Love the lite scroll engraving, however .. View attachment 478468

Cool privilege to name two towns and great names he chose. I had a Grandfather that was a railroad man with Norfolk and Western.

That is a beautiful rifle!

 

[Rare Breed]

Another example (a better example of chiseled as it contains the degree of relief typical of chiseled work):

View attachment 154249

Personally chiseled is the way to go. Two of my guns had this and I just like the look better

 

[Daniel Cary]

Does anyone know what they call this type of engraving, Embossed/Deep Relief???

 

[rookhawk]

Chiseled, deep relief.

genre: some Celtic

 

[Daniel Cary]

Chiseled, deep relief.

genre: some Celtic

Thank you! .. interesting, historic genre

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

im looking to have an animal engraved on a double rifle but im unsure in what style id like it done. would you guys help explain the different styles of animal engraving?

thank you
-Matt

@matt85
If you want engraving done look up Damien Connelly. He moved from Australia to the USA as Australians didn't want to pay what he was worth. He would advise you of suitable animals to engrave on your double.
Bob

 

[rookhawk]

A few common styles:

-Bullino: This is the photo-realist style of engraving. It looks like a black and white photo and can be stunning. It is fragile and most likely to be damaged from carrying because the engraving is so very fine to create the textures.

-Relief: Typical engraving. Many options from game animals to floral. Bouquets. "Dollar Bill". Celtic. Acanthus. Rose and Scroll.

-Deep Relief / Chiselled: This is the most labor intensive because so much material is removed to create three dimensional images. It is the best wearing and longest lasting, but also very time consuming for the engraver.

Once you decide upon technique, then it is the topic of aesthetic style of what kind of patterns you may wish to apply on or around the game scene.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

agreed, but i just used that example from the Heym website. its not what im considering myself.



i havent bought anything yet, im currently setting aside money and selling some rifles.

as far as what kind of animal will be on the gun, thats already pretty much decided. im just looking at styles of engraving and trying to figure out what i like the most.

-matt

@matt85

This is an example of Daniens work on a 375H&H Winchester model 70.
He will do any animal and any style you want but be prepared this stuff don't come cheap.
Bob

 

[IvW]

If I could I would have the sculls and footprints engraved.......

 

[Daniel Cary]

im looking to have an animal engraved on a double rifle but im unsure in what style id like it done. would you guys help explain the different styles of animal engraving?

thank you
-Matt

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Matt, what you want is the warthog so as others have said, just get a simple warthog. Here is a buffalo on a Heym double belonging to a member on AH. If you are going to get trees and grass too make sure you send them a picture of that also, I recently saw a beautifully engraved buff with a Japanese bonsai to one side, totally spoilt it.

 

[Fabnosh]

These might tease a little, just a little:

Droplock Double Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Droplock Double Rifles, built in our workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

Sidelock Double Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Sidelock Double Rifles, built in our workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

FN

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

These might tease a little, just a little:

Droplock Double Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Droplock Double Rifles, built in our workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

Sidelock Double Rifles | Sporting Guns & Rifles | Westley Richards - Guns

Discover our bespoke Sidelock Double Rifles, built in our workshop by a team of highly skilled craftsmen - own what will one day be passed down as an heirloom.

www.westleyrichards.com

FN

The finish and engraving bar has indeed been set very high by the likes of Westley Richards and Rigby. Verney Carron do great work too. I am not a fan of scroll work on double rifles, so by and large Purdey and Holland and Holland don't do it for me.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Check out the Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA), their website offers a lot of great engravers and styles, photos of guns engraved by members, etc. Many of my guns were engraved by Sam Welch - whose work you can see on the FEGA website.
1915 Ainsley Fox 16 gauge by Sam Welch

 

[VertigoBE]

If I could I would have the sculls and footprints engraved.......

The sole of an old bull elephant at the bottom of the action.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

The sole of an old bull elephant at the bottom of the action.

I like that.

 

[Major Bonkers]

Check out Creative Art. Also Andy Miles, who is an outworker for the London trade and has worked on Rigby and Boss guns. Avoid the mark-up applied to his work by going direct; he is considerably cheaper than some of the prices indicated here, and also pleasant and helpful. (He has done excellent acanthus scroll-work for me - sorry KP - but unfortunately I am away from home so cannot post examples.) On the assumption that you are in America, it cannot be too hard to dismantle the locks and any other bits that you want engraved and send them over, rather than a whole rifle.

I suggest that you get the rifle's serial number engraved and gold-filled on the trigger guard, which saves hassle at customs checks. The rib is traditionally stippled to avoid a heat mirage above the rifle.

The more personal the engraving, the less valuable the gun is on resale. The very fine bollino (or Italian) style of engraving is - in my opinion only - too delicate for a working rifle and risks being scratched or wiped off. Instead of engraving at all, consider a gold label finish, which can look particularly smart against a deep black background.

It obviously helps if you work out in advance roughly what you want. The engraver should produce a sketch of what is to be done before he starts work.

From memory, Terry Weiland has a section on engraving in his book 'Dangerous Game Rifles', which would be a good place to start. Also 'Modern Firearm Engravings' by Mario Abbiatico.