engraved French lock

Jerry, a question if I may:

You mention that they are being case hardened. Won't you need to re-polish them afterwords? Will they be color case hardened or are you just going for a hardened lock surface? It seems that the extreme heat (1400F) of hardening would be hard on those silver/gold inlays.

Nice work! Now,send them over tome and let me bash em up and rust them a bit , then you'll really have something. :haha:
Seriously, VERY VERY NIcE WORK. :bow:

In this day where Mass Production rules and Architects can pass off unadorned Concrete as Aesthetically pleasing, your work is a Breath of Fresh Air...

Eric

Sir you are a true ARTIST :bow:

This is the best way I have found to block a lock when it is being case hardened. Below are the results. This lock was packed in 65% wood charcoal and 35% bone charcoal , held at 1450 to 1465 for 1 1/2 hours and quenched in fresh cool water . Then destressed at 350° F for 1 1/2 hours.



Below is the lock after case hardeneing. I am not sure if I like this or not. I might take some of the color off or all of it an go back to bright. It's awful dark. Honest coments apreciated. The photo is a little too big for this web sight so just click on the url. http://jwh-flintlocks.net/casehardenedlockfor-web.jpg

I like it...really makes your flower work stand out...but it is awesome either way....Alvin :thumbsup:

I am a fan of bright locks.

The color hides the engraving, the inlays do stand out though.

Just browned a lock by request and all I can think is what a waste.

I do like that jig you have there though, wish my furnace was a tad larger, I can only get a block on one side and it usually goes on the backside because of the pan.

It's pretty, but I have to agree with Apprenticebuilder. Much of the engraving detail is camouflaged.

Jerry,
I am learning engraving and gunsmithing from a local fellow (John Schippers) and he is having me polishing locks and so much else.
I now truly appreciate the VERY HARD work that you all do after learning these things.
Never knew just how much work is involved.
My respect of what you do has increased 1000 fold.

BTW, that is almost too beautiful to be mounted.
Very fine work Sir, very fine.

Cheers, DonK

Mr.H, when are you going to show us the really good stuf you do? The stuff you keep private. Wow, what a talented man, folks. Does,nt get any better. JZ

I've seen many artisans(as a dealer and appraiser) that were masters at one or more of the disciplines required in "high art" gun building(antique and modern), very few that were masters of all and even fewer that could make it all flow(work)and not be gaudy, in my opinion. Jerry has very few in his company...

Jerry,

Not that I am qualified to comment on this level of artistry, but I personally like the darker steel and the more stark contrast it creates with the gold work. The first picture you posted, before the locks were case hardened, shows the steel in a lighter condition. Comparing the two, I like the darker one best. I concur that the darker steel hides some of the engraving detail, but on this lock it is the inlays that dominate the embellishment and the engraving is supportive. So the color of the plate should also be supportive of the primary decoration.

(Jeeezzzz....listen to that....I sound like a wild eyed art critique !) Let me put it more simply: Leave it alone....I like it the way it is.

Dave

Thanks so much for all the compliments and opinions. I would get extremely conceited but every year or so I go to the Engravers guild show in Reno and that puts me back in my place. The stuff I do is pretty basic compared to some of those guys. I am going to leave these locks alone for a few weeks and then decide what to do about the color. I was hoping they would come out much more on the grey side. It is the blocking that made them come out so dark. Anything that traps the steam next to the lock will increase the colors. especially the blue.
Sniper68.
You deserve the highest respect for your service in the USMC. If we ever meet I will buy your dinner any day.

davec2 said:

Jerry,

Not that I am qualified to comment on this level of artistry, but I personally like the darker steel and the more stark contrast it creates with the gold work. Dave

Click to expand...

:thumbsup: Thanks for typing that all out for me.. :haha:

I'm with davec2. It's gorgeous the way it is.

I don't know much of anything about engraving, but I do know that lock is just downright awesome!