doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Wild engraving - LOTS of photos

Chuck, can't find fault with these nice original high conditioned guns. You've an eye for 'em - sir!

I also think that dogdigger has it right. Besides some of the edges of the leaves not lining up, notice the bottom of the knee of the figure at 9 o'clock on the trigger plate. There's an obvious misalignment between the two pieces. The plate needs to be seated forward enough to close the gap and the edges will align.

This H&H is an example of Grifnee's interpretation of a style that has been around since classical Greece. If one is to be critical of art, one should know the context, or "structure" in which the art can be discussed. The piece also looks as if may not be in completeley original factory condition, showing some wear from the trigger plate being manhandled, causing the "gap". I am posting a phto of some Philippo Negroli work from 1533.

And this is from a Negroli Burgonet, 1539.

And this is a Purdey, 1926.

My point being, as that as a work of Art, the Holland in this thread is a very nicely done and well executed piece when viewed in the structure of its style. Of course everyone is entitled to their own likes, or dislikes, but it can be a good thing to appreciate it in context of its structure, unless one is blessed with the good fortune to be able to see all the world through the eyes of a child.

Barry,
'sounds like wine...the more you know about it, the more you can appreciate the good stuff. Unfortunately, the not so good stuff doesn't appeal as much as you get more sophisticated.

I tried looking at the Berretas through the eYes of a child and I still can't appreaciate them.
L.F.

One of most interesting aspects of the artisinal crafts revival in our 'New Victorian' era, has been a steady rise in the quality of contemporary work.

I first noticed it in the recreation of American longrifles when John Bivins, Monte Mandarino, Wallace Gusler and others of similar skill began to do work equal to the crafts of the Renaissance. Mannerist styles, Grotesques, Baroque and Rococco scrolls, and lush acanthus leaves adorned recreations of great museum quality historic arms.

The scholars and engravers heregathered will find the above paragraph to be the barest inadequate sketch of this revival, but Gifnee's interpretation of the historical artistic precedents speaks for its ownse'f, brudda.

We live in fortunate days, indeed, when such work and scholarshipis readily available at the click of a key. Mr. Hand's photo collection of original work is worth a book, for the edifcation of those of us not fortunate enuff to have studied these masterpieces.

The was a small exhibition within the past few years, called "Three Hundred Years of Gunmaking", or close to that. The catalogs are unobtanium, but well worth the cost for comparison between the modern masters and their predecessors.

Keeps those good pics a rollin' in, cowboys.

Here is an Harry Kell c 1940,upcoming Shooting Sportsman Article by Victor Ventors/Trevallion. The Fred Scales'Mystery Gun'.