doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Work of Ken Hurst

Gentlemen - again, forgive me as this is not a double gun, but I know many of you have an interest in the work of Ken Hurst. Below are pictures of an SX-1 engraving project that I commissioned Ken to do. One side of the receiver is done, the other side will have dogs flushing pheasant scene (hence a previous call from Ken for Pheasant tails, pictures, etc).

I did however, go to Ken's with two excellent Parker fanatics (and great guys)....which I hope may absolve me to a degree for posting pictures of an auto.

There is a huge amount of detail in this engraving that I was not able to capture. When the receiver is done and still in white, I will have a friend who is a professional take some better photos.

Pictures were taken with a very small Nikon with limited macro capabilities (and by a photographer with even more limited talent). Hope you enjoy these.

Not usually a fan of gold inlays. These,however, may have changed my mind. Regards

Per Dr. Dozier:


I'm with you on both counts. I'm not much for animals either, but this scene is memorable. I may stop wearing shoes.

Look at the ripples in the water behind the ducks! Is that cool or what?


Glenn

That is what I was just looking at, Glenn. Nice. Really nice work.

My compliments to my friend Ken. He is not only indredibly talented, he is a true gentleman that is very generous with his time and his experience. Gold inlays, when done tastefully and by a true artisan (as in this case) are totally appropriate.

Stunning, Stephen. Simply STUNNING! More than ever, making me wish I'd never sold my SX-1.

On Ken's behalf, thank you. The subject of tastefulness has come up with regard to gold inlays. Something that Ken and I agreed to from the very start was that more is not necessarily better and that harmony, elegance, proportion and the like in the composition is the key. I believe that Ken reflected the aesthetic that I tried to convey via words and artwork that I provided and interpreted these through his mastery of his craft and his artful eye.

This engraved scene is almost fractal...when you look closer you find a whole other level of detail and when you look even closer, well...there's yet another level of detail to marvel at.

I could not be happier with the engraving nor with the experience which I view as having the salient characteristics of learning, expressing, and relationships. This process; the friendships made, the exchange of information and point of view, the honor of tradition expressed through a modern eye and craft, the shared delight in rendering art on a shotgun, is as substantive to me as the finished product which I think is pure excellence.

Can anybody find the black turtle in the scene?

I know that the pheasant/dog scene will be the equal to the water fowl as we both share the view that this level of work has to be executed throughout for balance and harmony.

By the by, we also spent time with Mr. Boone Berlin doing the final fitting of the pattern stock from which we will duplicate into the Cecil Fredi blank I obtained. Mr. Berlin is, I have found, a young man of superb character and his dedication to detail and quality makes him a finely suitable guild partner for Ken.

I'm glad that some found pleasure in this display of Ken's profound talent.

Mark....when you want another SX-1, let me know..I have connections :-) LOL. You and your family are in my thoughts.

Stephen