THE ART OF ENGRAVING brings to the reader - for the first time ever - a complete, authoritative, imaginative and detailed introduction and training in the art of gun engraving. It is a supremely unique book, for not only does it sweep aside the mystery which has surrounded engraving through the centuries, but it factually, simply and in layman's terms tells you how to engrave. Unlike so many so-called "instruction manuals", The Art of Engraving does not assume you know anything about engraving. You start at the beginning by learning to draw scrolls and layouts, then cut practice plates until you are sure enough of your ability to actually proceed to designing a pattern, transferring it to a gun and cutting it into the steel. Whether you want to learn to engrave now . . . think you might like to in the future . . . or simply wish to broaden your knowledge of the art to be able to better judge the work of others (as you will learn to tell the good from the bad - and know why), this is the book for you. Every gunsmith, gun lover or craftsman - no matter what his other calling - has the soul of an artist. This personal, creative urge can be easily directed into the highly renumerative field of gun engraving through the coaching, no-nonsense instructions and technical support in The Art of Engraving. Chapters include: Design and Layout; Materials; Anatomy; Lettering; The Camera; Beginning to Engrave; Advanced Engraving and The Gravermeister. Hundreds of original engravings, designs and layouts by the author (plus samples from other master engravers) to explain specific points and techniques. Much of the original work is intended for you to copy and transfer to your own guns to create an engraving job you can be proud of having done. 208 extremely handsome 8½" x 11" pages. Over 1378 photographs, drawings, designs, layouts and illustrations. Deluxe, hardbound cloth covers. Bound a special way to lie flat. Printed on finest, dull-finished, coated paper available. Extensive use of color to highlight designs, illustrations, pictures. Thoroughly cross-referenced index. Comprehensive listing of reference books of design, equipment, precious metals, books. Written to be used on your bench; magnificent enough for the parlor . . . but above all, intended to teach you how to engrave a gun.
We asked James B. Meek, author of The Art Of Engraving for his recommendations. This is what he wrote: "Perhaps 90% of all the scroll work in engraving can be done with the following tools". Point Graver No. 4 will cut most scrolls. Fine detail is cut with 0 Point. Knife No. 2 is also for detail. The Square is perhaps the most widely used, can also be sharpened as a point, or a chisel, Flat Nos. 36 and 37, and Round Nos. 50 and 54 are needed for lettering on high relief. Kit contains: Point - Nos. 0 and 4; Square - (2) GlenSteel Blanks; Flat - Nos. 36 and 39; Knife - No. 2; Round - Nos. 50 and 54. 9 gravers total.
