Examples – Antique Firearms Restoration Blog

Andrews Restoration and tips.

Examples, Restoration, Uncategorized 1 Response »

Mar 182017

The Andrews is a fairly typical travelling or possibly officer’s pistol of the turn of the 18th century. Judging by pictures on the internet there were basically two common patterns of Andrews pistols of this type – the earlier with a rounded back to the lock and a semi rainproof pan and serpentine cock in the English style, and the later with a square back to the lock and a full rainproof pan and french style cock with a cutout. This one is probably the earlier type based on the shape of the lock and so would not have had a full rainproof pan and french cock.

Stripping the pistol;-

Engraved Borders

Engraving, Examples, Uncategorized No Responses »

Sep 072016

Here are a few examples of freehand borders copied from antique locks – I was playing about at the time and don’t have any note of which guns they came from, although I can remember a few. I did these years ago when I was learning and didn’t have a proper microscope, I hope I’m better now – obviously I couldn’t even rule a straight line, but I have no shame and thought there was some value in showing them – I will try to do better examples when I have time! Having said that, if you put these as borders on a gun probably no-one would notice how bad they are (except No2!).

Engraved Screw heads – gallery

Engraving, Examples, Uncategorized No Responses »

Sep 062016

Here are some of the myriad of possible designs for screw heads – almost all come from historical examples, although often with a bit of poetic licence! Most of these examples are test pieces engraved on the heads of ordinary old fashioned countersunk woodscrews ( bought from ebay) as its a quick way of getting something to engrave. Of course the slots are much wider than one would have in a gun screw, so they don’t look quite right

View 15 photos »

Celtic Engraving

Examples No Responses »

May 132015

Allan Owens mentioned at the last Anglian Muzzle Loaders’ shoot that he had a gun he wanted to rebuild as a Scottish gun as he has links to Scotland, so I thought that I’d have a look at what sources I could find, and as I was looking for a theme for a bit of practice, I decided to devote my beautifully polished bit of steel to a Celtic theme – nothing to do with the success of the SNP in the general election, although there might be a market there!

This is the finished test lock – not too bad, but need to flow the leaves a bit better in one or two places, and maybe it should have had a small thistle at the toe of the ‘lock’? The thistle heads on the lock are not quite as good as the right hand one above.

Engraving practice plates

Examples 2 Responses »

Feb 102015

Here are a number of my practice plates – they represent most of the practice I have done – there are probably at most half a dozen very early ones that are too bad to contemplate!

Click below to see more practice plates……

Engraving a new single barrelled muzzle loading gun

Examples 1 Response »

Oct 052014

My latest project is engraving a gun that a friend Allan Owens has just finished. Allan has built a number of punt guns before, including the restoration/rebuild of the famous ‘Big Tom’, and this is his 15th gun, and I believe his first non punt gun. I was a bit reluctant to cut my engraving teeth on his beautiful new gun, but he insisted, so I’ve got to do it! Yesterday a parcel of the smaller parts arrived – we had already discussed what style of decoration was appropriate, and agreed that it would be a very plain gun – I’ve got the lock design sorted, and am working on the rest, but while it is still waiting the first touch with the graver, here are some pictures of the gun.

So far I’ve fixed the parts onto blocks so that I can hold them in the engraver’s vice without marking them – no need to glue them down as there are enough screw holes.

Allan’s gun in the white