My first attempt at Rococo

Ian, really nice work, I try but you succeed! I have some books that I try to copy from but some how my fingers don't seem to follow the lines that I scribe to.

Moar....

Cleaned up the left wrist a a bit and outlined the tang carving.

You're doing really good work for just starting out. With more practice, or better yet taking a class from a top-not carver, you'll be doing even better work. What I'm trying to say is that you're off to a good start, show good ability and could get really good with time.

It's easier than you thought it would be, isn't it?

The talent we see on this forum is truly an inspiration.

Very nice work.

IanH said:

Mostly copying from images of Haines original works, but I'm altering the style slightly (fewer sharp points to the leaves, for one thing) and making some of it up where I can't seem to find any detailed photos, such as the transition from the forestock mouldings to the entry thimble carving. I'll also have to make up the tang carving so some degree as I explained earlier the person who started the kit and inlet the barrel and tang didn't modify the tang so I have this big flared, squared-off thing to deal with.

Something that's more difficult than I anticipated was drawing some the designs backwards by eye....my rifle is left handed.

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In the late 70s I built a Reading school rifle in cherry. I was anxious to get it done for reenacting so I inlet the square tang. Seeing my mistake I inlet a small piece of cherry into the tang area.
The barrel tang should have ended in a "thumb nail." So I filed the tang end and inlet it in to the patched stock. A beaver tail was then carved behind the tang.
You have to look really close to see the joint after all these years.

James Kibler said:

You're doing really good work for just starting out. With more practice, or better yet taking a class from a top-not carver, you'll be doing even better work. What I'm trying to say is that you're off to a good start, show good ability and could get really good with time.

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Thank you for the encouraging words. Thing is, I don't generally care for carved rifles, brass patch boxes, or muzzle caps, so with regard to carving in particular I don't have much desire to master it, just to get through this one without it looking like a drunk monkey beat on it with a hatchet. The only reason I'm carving this one is it is necessary for the style and I do like the overall look of several of Isaac Haines' rifles. This rifle is getting an engraved, four-piece patch box for the same reason, but for that I will be taking liberties of both the layout and size to make it more pleasing to my eye.

If I carve another rifle it will likely only happen if I decide to build a 16-gauge double flint English fowling piece with the full decorative treatment.

What I would like to become at least competent doing is metal engraving and light sculpting, which is neither a natural talent nor a skill I have developed yet.

billraby said:

It's easier than you thought it would be, isn't it?

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A little, yes. I didn't expect it to be difficult beyond avoiding flaking out pits in the wavy grain during background removal, and it hasn't been too hard. It would be MUCH mire difficult if I had to invent all the patterns from scratch. I took to heart the often-dispensed advise to unashamedly copy other's good work when starting out.

I agree that drawing the pattern is the hardest part.

billraby said:

I agree that drawing the pattern is the hardest part.

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Same as engraving. No matter how well the execution is done, the design makes it or breaks it.

Fantastic work. I never knew that kind of design was called 'Rococo' although I have often seen and admired it.

All for now.

Thats pretty darn nice Ian

A little more refining and correction, more small corrections and a lot of detail left to go but it's coming along.

Wonderful work! It embodies all the critical elements.
Aspiration, followed by inspiration, fueled with dedication, oiled with perspiration.

Sore neck, too.

A little preview. I know I should round over the leaves more, but then I'd have to rework some of the other panels to match, so probably will just leave them as they are.

One coat of blushed ferric nitrate/water solution to raise the grain, sanded back and wetted with alcohol:


After second coat of stain and light whiskering:


Done with carving, on to the infernal brass patchbox. I dislike them so much I've seriously considered skipping it. Might yet skip it, I'm squarely on the fence.

IanH said:

Sore neck, too.

A little preview. I know I should round over the leaves more, but then I'd have to rework some of the other panels to match, so probably will just leave them as they are.

One coat of blushed ferric nitrate/water solution to raise the grain, sanded back and wetted with alcohol:
View attachment 298947

After second coat of stain and light whiskering:
View attachment 298946

Done with carving, on to the infernal brass patchbox. I dislike them so much I've seriously considered skipping it. Might yet skip it, I'm squarely on the fence.

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Looks very good! A little insize carvings can add a whole lot to it- a few small vine- thingys. A little will add a lot

I just got a nastygram for mentioning fertilizer in a Pyrodex thread. Thanks for the nice words, fellas, but I'm done with the stupidity of some things here. At least I outlasted Mr. EVIL!

BYE.