Don’t remember if I’ve posted this before, and apologies for redundancy if I have. This was later reformatted into a bracelet, and later a barrette design which I posted on other threads.
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I recall you mentioning it, wasn’t the barrette designed and made for your wife? This is stunning, incredibly well executed scroll work and overall design. Beautiful craftsmanship, as always @mmrogers.
Regards,
Aaron
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Thanks Aaron. My instructor was Sam Alfano.
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It certainly shows Mike, studying under a master engraver such as him must have been incredibly memorable. I know that this isn’t a forum for tools, but please bear with me.
My grandfather was a gunsmith, before it was a world of bolted together, store bought parts. Growing up in his shop, watching him checker custom stocks by hand, and hand engrave receivers, barrels, trigger guards, bottom metal, etc. ignited in me a genuine interest in this craft at a young age. I’ve got a few of his Ezra F. Bowman and Co. push gravers. Both the tangs as well as the collars have patent dates of 1889-1890. Nowhere nearly as efficient as what’s available today, but they’re important to me. I hope you enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, designs, and a bit of history, it’s highly respectable and appreciated.
Regards,
Aaron
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Looks great, Mike! Fantastic work. Did it ever make its way onto a rifle?
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No it didn’t, Tom. I cut one for practice, reformatted the design for use in a bracelet, and then moved on to this.
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Fantastic collection, Aaron. Those are in amazing shape. They look like you could sit right down with them today, and start cutting!
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Mike,
This is fabulous. The depth in this bracelet is something else! The scroll work and detailed engraving is beautiful. Thank you for sharing this wonderful example of what an experienced set of human hands can craft.
Thank you for your kind words, they’re certainly sharp enough to shave a gnat with! The rosewood is in fine enough shape, Grandpa’s tools were, and are, taken well care of. If I resided in closer proximity to you I’d inquire about an apprenticeship!
Regards,
Aaron
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@Ravenscry, I like the depth too, but because it’s all one piece, it still looks a little flat to me. I think I’m going to do this one again in layers, and really heavy. Maybe 20 gauge over 12, or 14, with a bold stamped border and heavily stippled, or reticulated background. I think the additional dimension will really make the whole design pop! We’ll see.
ETA: Here’s a video which describes the process of the hand push engraving technique for which Aaron’s fantastic collection antique gravers were designed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhKSjzwdsdA
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Really beautiful work, Mike! I agree with Aaron, the deep relief is amazing and really grabs my attention. Curious, how is a piece like this marketed? In other words, how do potential buyers know it’s available? Do you exhibit at trade shows or advertise in magazines? I’m thinking you would fit right in at the American Quarter Horse Congress we attended this month.
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Thank you, Tom. These days I market higher end pieces to mostly private clientele. For more commercial work, I usually develop a line composed of vignettes of matching items and offer these primarily to retailers.
Most of my work for the past decade or so is custom firearms, unrelated to jewelry. Once again, to private clientele.
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