Somebody learning the trade? Seems slightly above bubba, but far below a master. The stock work on the first one is pretty darned good, far better than on the second - but still far from perfect.

First one is an EG, which if it already had a recoil pad was no real loss of a 99. Second one is a really early 1899A, hope it didn't have a lot of condition prior to be "improved".

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=448996269









http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=449001992

OUTSTANDING CRAFTSMANSHIP.
BETTER THAN THE ONES I DID.

RORY
Actually The SCROLLING is not too bad at all, The Stipple Seems DEEP.

As Far as GAME SCENES, it takes a lot of Practice,Work to get a true 2 1/2 to 3 Dimensional Figure Done Correctly. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE
A Master ENGRAVER-ARTIST if you will has no problem in Game Scenes.
I Give the Person whom attempted a B+ for the Effort.For It's tad Nicer Than Some of the stuff i've seen.

J.M.O.
STEVE

No doubt those rifles were pretty special to a former owner.
They are what they are at this point and fit squarely in the customized category. I'd call 'em more folk art than engraving. Not my cup-o-tea, but interesting.
Value? TBD...

I would bet the bottom one was an earlier attempt than the top one. Scroll work not all that bad on the top one, but not perfect. Actually I fault him more for the crude scrolls incorporated into the checkering panels than for his engraving. Said scrolls would have been improved with a little shallow scalloping/shading as well as better proportioning. Let's hope he got better after this with his animals, too. But, as stated before overall not terrible (if it was a first or second attempt), and at least he was doing it and not talking about it.

GARY
HOPE your feeling better? You mentioned a few months back you may or wanted to attempt Engraving your self! Did you ever get started? A person with your talents, i could see some nice work come out of it.
Steve

Nah, never got into it.

They have a lot of potential
Both look unfinished. If you could find out who started them
it would be interesting
Both of them look like they are out line engraved
There is still room to do the shading and cross hatching on the scrolls, some Bulino on the animal's and a bit more scroll work and they would be eye catching
JMO
Cheers Graham

Some people will put a lot of effort into ruining a formerly fine rifle.

I agree.

\

PLUS 1 On That. I agree also.
Should of Never Done the Ones I Did.

Steve,

just call it a learning experience.

Most of yours are likely far to collectable. I could barrow you some to practice on.

DELL
Believe Me I've Done Enough Practice.

I don't think I'd put your work in the same category as the rifles in the original post.

Very nice work indeed.

Oh Man I'll say so!

Are those wood spacers under the rear sight base?

no, its aluminum... its a stith scope mount.

My hearts desire is to own a finely engraved rifle. Ben Shostle from Indiana was a "heavy engraved" specialist. He rivaled the Nimscheke family. His daughter scrimshawed a nice powder horn for me when I was 11yrs old. I appreciate the talent and skill. I might have wasted the effort on a Ruger 10-22...but it is the owner and not the onlooker who really matters. I think it takes a lot of courage to carve up a nice rifle, and I think it will add memories to someone who will inherit it. I have a butt-ugly sporterized M1917 Enfield. It is about 10-1/2 lbs of the ugliest tent stake you can imagine. The stock has such meticulous work (still hideous), and I can only imagine the time involved for someone to fit a new barrel and make this thing extra ugly. "A" for effort. C-- for results on my rig. The thing shoots like a dream with a rare RA Litschert scope. Good for someone trying their best. We all fall short from time to time.

GeeZ Steve, that's the first I seen that rifle finished. It's legacy work for sure, truly stunning. You have every reason to be proud!

...I have to ask, did you keep track of your hours? If so, how many? If you did that in under 200 hours I'd be amazed.

Jeff
I have done 4 so Far complete and 2 more in the works
1st two took me around 460 hours each give or take 10% and wood checkering etc another 70 hours.

The other's are down to about 270 each, but i don't work on them continually.

But as I Said before Should of Never Done the Ones I Did.
Added no value the rifles,They Were Just 450.00 to 700.00 rats up graded if you will. Only Value added is to me as far as experiencing and self gratification of taking on something.
Steve

And they look even better in person. Saw them at Savage Fest.
Steve - where do the designs come from? retro? copy? original?
There's probably an engraved floor jack in your garage isn't there??

Rick
The Designs if You Will are Original to what Savage did, Tnx to Some Forum member-Friends shared Some Detailed Photo's
Which i Copied-Engraved From, with Some Suttle Changes.
STEVE

I'd be proud to own any one of your rifles Steve, that is some FINE work. Mark.