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WyoChukar,

You will not need to do any drawing, the Kraus & Spangler light German Style Engraving is available to see in both Bill Brophy and John Houchins books. It's the accepted engraving for up grading a 00 L.C. Smith gun. Finding the talent to produce it today maybe costly however.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Kraus's #2 Gun engraving would look Great on your 00! The walking Woodcock is always a class style engraving.

Click on picture to enlarge to see detailed Kraus & Spangler Engraving.

Spanglers Spinning Clays were very popular on 00 upgrades also. Our family members up graded several 00 guns, with this conservative Spinning Clays engraving.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

The Kraus #2 engraving is a favorite of mine. But if I am going to learn the art and do my own, I'm not copying someone's work. I have plenty of time to ponder it as I am tackling a bigger project right now...1960 Ranchero. Finished the transmission conversion (T5) crossmember and mount two days ago. Ran out of welding wire today. There will be an engine in there soon. Of course after everything is done, I get to take it all apart again to paint it!

Member Joined: 03 Apr 2012 Posts: 21 Location: SE Utah

The first thing that caught my eye...I see what looks like a cave painting of a plains game animal, an antelope or oryx running to the right.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

It also looks like a hawk dropping in.

Did I mention, there is a graded Syracuse Arms 16 ga. with a broken stock. Question is, can I scratch up the cash for that one after buying the Smith? May have to sell something!

WyoChukar,

Now that would be a nice gun to use that beautiful Walnut Wood on for sure.
What is the asking price on the Syracuse L.C. Smith 16 with the damaged stock?

Promise I will no go after it.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

Not an L.C. Smith. Syracuse Arms, not to be confused with Lefever either. A somewhat little known company that produced a small number of quality guns. Asking price is about $900, probably due to the stock break going all the way through the wrist. Not an easy stock to build as boxlocks go.

Given your confusion over which gun to use that wood on, I have a 16 bore that needs a new stick of wood. I will be more than happy to send it your way and if you could please have it back to me by September 15th, that would be just perfect. Very Happy

WyoChukar,

Frankly I would use the nice wood on the 00 or Fox you already own, rather than purchase the gun of a little known gun maker with a damaged stock. Just my opinion.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 22 Feb 2019 Posts: 63 Location: United States

that is French Walnut. Get out the carbide cutters

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

Dave, Syracuse Arms is well respected, they are anything but hardware store guns. I didn't know about them until I stumbled onto an article about the ejector switch feature in an old issue of DGJ. Some of the guns have a switch in the forearm that will override the ejectors.

The gun in question does not have the switch for its ejectors. The engraving quality is quite good and actually looks like it came from the same hand that engraved the Lefever E project I picked up, the similarities are remarkable. Someone rust blued the barrels which would be addressed for sure since the Grade 3 guns came with the amazing "Washington" pattern damascus. Lightweight little gun to boot.

Oh, and I have 5 pieces of wood, wink-wink. This one is just the nicest!

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1307 Location: Western WA

First, carve and fit the blank to the NID.
Then peruse this:
https://www.amazon.com/General-engraving-watchmakers-jewelers-kindred-ebook/dp/B01L9KVT68/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?keywords=instruction+book+how+to+engrave+metal+instructions&qid=1556945487&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmr1

Then clamp NID action in a padded vise and and go to work with these:
https://www.amazon.com/Milgrain-Tools-Set-6-MLG-200-00/dp/B005OS57ZQ/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=metal+hand+engraving+tools&qid=1556945700&s=gateway&sr=8-7

You could go with English style roses and scrolls, American style dogs and birds, or those lovely unclad Dianas of the Italian school, as your taste dictates. That should carry you through the hot Wyoming summer. Then install that new stock and forearm, and you will be ready by opening day of bird season.

Best of Luck

B.

Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Posts: 684 Location: Ontario

Wyochukar, i have restocked some guns and will restock more. Along with every gun I buy getting at least a refinish and careful internal inspection of the wood for cracks and shrinkage, as I just about only buy pre war vintage.

I'll be getting back a 1907 vintage Remington 1894 BE later this month with a new stick on it and will sending out a 1895 Sauer & Sohn sidelock once the Remmy is home. Still trying to decide between straight or POW for the Sauer. Leaning to straight. It's a very petite and lightweight 12 (Sorry guys).

IMHO one needs to match the wood to rest of the gun. It has to balance out. The wood is part of a bigger entity. Now, having said that, a plainer gun can take fancier wood more than a fancy gun would work with plainer wood.

To my eye that blank looks like it should be on a gun with perfectly blued barrels and an action with a nice amount of engraving left with it's vintage patina, earned over many years of good use and care. I'm sure you'll find the right gun if it's not already in your safe.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

I agree about the fancy guns with plain wood, it's odd. Surprisingly, I see a lot of those! Another observation, fancy wood on a plain bolt action rifle or even a pump/ auto shotgun looks perfectly fine to me, but for some reason I don't feel the same about a double gun. Maybe it's my art background from long ago that does this to my perceptions, but something about the lines of a SxS gun begs to be matched up a little bit.

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1973 Location: Maine

Send it to me. I know a guy who can work wonders with a stick like that.

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

"Umm, I'll take "things with zero possibility of happening" for $200, Alex." Laughing