Cape Buffalo Engraving on Double Rifle

[AfricaHunting.com]

Cape Buffalo Engraving on Double Rifle

From the extraordinary work of Wildlife Artist Marcello Pettineo, engraving of Cape Buffalo scene by Master Engraver Helene Gontel from Verney-Carron on a Double Rifle model Azur Side by Side Boxlock.

Engraving going all around the receiver, engraved long trigger guard and steel pistol grip cap with built-in reservoir, sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend.

Click on image to enlarge

Azur Safari PH Double Rifle by Verney-Carron. Azur Side by Side Boxlock Safari PH Double Rifle by Verney-Carron. Model with ejector and double trigger. Sculpted, scalloped action with straight reinforced side ribes. Triple parallel lumps breaching system. Hand made scroll&rose engraving . 60 cm/24 in (65 cm 26 in. upon request) barrels depending on caliber. Integral quarter rib, one fixed rear sight and standard front sight. Pistol grip stock with cheek piece in a standard Turkish walnut wood, hand-rubbed oil finished, fitted with an Old English recoil pad. Long trigger guard with steel cap. Available Calibers: 375HH, 470NE, 450/400 NE, 500 NE, 577 NE, 600 NE.

Click on image to enlarge

Plan/Drawing by Wildlife Artist Marcello Pettineo for Cape Buffalo engraving on Double Rifle

Click on image to enlarge

Plan/Drawing by Wildlife Artist Marcello Pettineo for Cape Buffalo engraving on Double Rifle

Click on image to enlarge

Plan/Drawing by Wildlife Artist Marcello Pettineo for Cape Buffalo engraving on Double Rifle

Click on image to enlarge

Plan/Drawing by Wildlife Artist Marcello Pettineo for Cape Buffalo engraving on Double Rifle

Click on image to enlarge

Plan/Drawing by Wildlife Artist Marcello Pettineo for Cape Buffalo engraving on Double Rifle

Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge

Plan for engraved long trigger guard

Long steel trigger guard

Engraved long trigger guard

Engraved long trigger guard

Engraved long trigger guard

Engraved long trigger guard

Engraved long trigger guard

Plan for sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Sculpted and engraved eyelets on forend

Plan for engraved Croc eye pistol grip cap with built-in reservoir

Steel pistol grip cap with built-in reservoir

Engraved Croc eye pistol grip cap with built-in reservoir

 

[BETO]

que coisa mais linda!

 

[bee keeper]

wow.......

 

[jaustin]

I believe this is the coolest engraving I have ever seen. Well, except for maybe Ryan Shalloms rabbits.

 

[daggaboyblog]

Now this is a thing of beauty! I'd love one of these...

 

[Kiwi505]

wow.......

You took the word out of my mouth ...........................

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Custom Azur Safari Eloge 500 NE Double Rifle by Verney-Carron with Buffalo Engraving

Here are pictures of the actual finished custom side by side double rifle sent to me by Jean Verney-Carron of L'Atelier Verney-Carron in Saint-Etienne, France, makers of fine and custom firearms. Verney-Carron is France's oldest hunting gun maker and one of the oldest in the world with roots in the gun trade going back to 1650.


Custom Azur Safari Eloge 500 NE Side by Side Boxlock Double Rifle by Verney-Carron with Buffalo Engraving

Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge


Click on image to enlarge

 

[Kiwi505]

The only question that I have is why did they use a boxlock instead of a sidelock?

 

[DUGABOY1]

The only question that I have is why did they use a boxlock instead of a sidelock?

Everyone is right! The engraving is very well done but no better than the drawings! The understanding the subject to be pictured in the engraving is key to fine engraving. No matter the skill of the metal cutter, if he/she doesn't know what the animal really looks like then the finished product will not be good.

In this case the subject matter is well known to the engraver, if he/she is the one who did the drawings, then the skill shows though the good engraver can copy anything he sees in a picture, or in a well done drawing, and there is no denying this engraver is skilled at the BOLINO style. Many of the double rifles engraved with animals that look like cartoons abound on the market. Though the engraver is good at what he knows, and the rose and scroll may be top notch, the whole package is ruined by his/her not knowing what the animal he/she is trying to engrave looks like.

The question of the use of the box lock action is a sound one form a structural point of view. In this case however, the addition of decorative side plates would have allowed more canvas for the engraving.

The side lock, simply because it is pretty, makes people think it is better structurally than the box lock, but it is not. There are many misconceptions about double rifles that have been fostered by the makers over a couple hundred years.


Some of the things like side lock actions, chopper lump barrel sets, among other things are touted to be the cat's meow, when all they are is more expensive.

Box lock vs. side lock strength:

The side lock costs more but is far easier to produce than the parts fitting in a box lock. Stop and think about it for a moment. The side plated fitted to the action is fairly straightforward. Once that is done the side plate is clamped in a vice with the inside facing up. This make fitting the internals a very easy task, while the fitting of the parts into the body of the action is far more complex. Then the stock maker simply take the side lock apart, and inlets the empty plate into the wrist wood, simply adding the components one at a time, and coating the latest part with ink to make a pattern on the wood and inlet that part and so on till the locks are all put together, and then the plates are uses as a template to drill the screw hole through the wrist of the stock for the through bolt.

The box lock on the other hand has to be worked blind for may part fittings requiring more man hours to fit properly than the side lock. Now, the weakest point on the double rifle, or shotgun is the wood in the wrist of the butt stock, and the more wood that is removed from this area the more likely it is to fail at that point. The well fitted and tempered action to barrel set is strong point in either type, and that joint rarely breaks on either type. Stocks being broken in the wrist area of a side lock is several times more often on the side lock than on a box lock! A cracked stock in the wrist area of a heavy recoiling rifle, is something you don't want when facing a charging elephant or buffalo. I have and have had both types over the years, and it is my opinion that the box lock is a superior rifle to the side lock, unless all one wants is glitz! For long use for the purpose a double rifle was designed for, the box lock is my pick. In my opinion pretty is as pretty does over the long haul.

Selection of methods of building barrel sets, from oldest to newest! Dovetail, chopper lump, shoe lump, and mono-block. All have their advantages and drawbacks, the actual strongest may surprise most, but that is for another post!

 

[Kiwi505]

I was not questioning the strength of the action, but sidelocks, whether correctly or not, are considered "fine" guns whereas boxlocks are considered working men's guns. I cannot afford either.
As you say, the sidelock has the side plates which, in this case, would have afforded a greater canvas.

I doubt that strength was a consideration in this instance.

 

[milford]

That is a peace of work how many hours went into that ???

 

[DUGABOY1]

That is a peace of work how many hours went into that ???

Milford I would say that the engraving on that rifle most likely cost as much as the rifle did, and probably took as much time to finish.

 

[DUGABOY1]

I was not questioning the strength of the action, but sidelocks, whether correctly or not, are considered "fine" guns whereas boxlocks are considered working men's guns. I cannot afford either.
As you say, the sidelock has the side plates which, in this case, would have afforded a greater canvas.

I doubt that strength was a consideration in this instance.

You are correct that the sidelock is considered top of the line,but I think strength is always a prerecusite when ordering a double rifle. However like most car buyers they look at the paint and forget about the usefulness.
In this case I'm sure the issue of strenth was an issue, or they would have gone with the sidelock. Anyone who has the cash to order a double rifle that costs twice as much as the field grade could buy it any way he wanted. In my case if I could aford that rifle I would have also ordered the box lock, but with Faux side plates for better use of the very expensive engraving, and to actually strengthen the wrist area without hollowing it out. At the end of the day, the rifle is still just a tool that if designed properly has no peer in the firearms, fired from the shoulder and designed for taking on the toughest animals in the world to stop them in their tracks!

 

[Kiwi505]

I think that you have a very good point there. Maybe the owner just likes boxlocks.

 

[enysse]

I wish I could own a rifle like that....just beautiful! Engravings add a lot of character to the gun!

 

[Ukstalker.375]

Can someone tell me what the reservoir in the pistol grip is for?
I have a Chapuis which has the exact same, but I have no idea what it does?
(that rifle looks stunning by the way...!!)

 

[008]

You are correct that the sidelock is considered top of the line,but I think strength is always a prerecusite when ordering a double rifle. However like most car buyers they look at the paint and forget about the usefulness.
In this case I'm sure the issue of strenth was an issue, or they would have gone with the sidelock. Anyone who has the cash to order a double rifle that costs twice as much as the field grade could buy it any way he wanted. In my case if I could aford that rifle I would have also ordered the box lock, but with Faux side plates for better use of the very expensive engraving, and to actually strengthen the wrist area without hollowing it out. At the end of the day, the rifle is still just a tool that if designed properly has no peer in the firearms, fired from the shoulder and designed for taking on the toughest animals in the world to stop them in their tracks!

Not arguing as to which is stronger but there have been many DRs built on the side lock action in 500, 600 and even now 700. Doesn't seem to be a weak link or a deterrent to Boss, Purdey, H&H to continue to build them on the tried a true sidelock. My first DR being built now is a box lock but I didn't get it because I thought it was better!

 

[KiwiHunter]

Ukstalker
The reservoir in the grip cap is traditionally for a spare front sight.

 

[gillettehunter]

The details on that rifles engraving is beautiful. Piece of art. Bruce

 

[Daniel Cary]

Ukstalker
The reservoir in the grip cap is traditionally for a spare front sight.

I 2nd the Thanks! I was thinking it was for something far in left field ; yikes