Archive for December, 2009

GUNSTOCK CARVING ON THIS WINCHESTER 308

While attending one of the many gun shows my husband and I frequent each year. We found several guns that, in my opinion, needed help. We purchased this Winchester .308 model 88 rifle. I chose to put a gunstock carving on this Winchester 308 because the stock was in desperate need of being refinished. There are several deep nicks and scratches on the butt of the gun. Along with the fact, someone has applied several coats of varnish to the stock. I would venture to guess they where trying to cover up the large scratches in the stock. In doing this, they have filled in the original checkering on the grip and forend of the gun. Thus making the gun look like the checkering is almost warn off.

I have stripped the stock of the old varnish, carve mountain goats on the stock, carve the basket weave pattern on the grip and the forend of the stock. As well as painted the carved sceen to bring it to life even more.

The history or background of the gun I am carving has become a very intersting past time for me. Here is some of the history I have found of the Winchester rifle. I hope you enjoy reading about the gun as much as I have. (If the pictures do not load. Please right click on the picture and choose “show picture”).

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 CUSTOMIZED GUNSTOCK CARVING

.44 cal Golden Boy made by Henry. The gun will have the basket weave and a rope carved into. Giving this customized gunstock carving a unique flare. This will be another christmas gift for the owner. The rope will be a challenge to design it and then carve it. I am excited to see how this gun will turn out. I have had the opportunity to carve a gun for three of the four men in this family. Each have incorporated their version of the families brand. Each has the basket weave, their brand and then something different just to keep the gun original and the design unique. Each carving has been put on a Golden Boy rifle. I’m sure this gun will be handed down from generation to generation.

CUSTOM GUNSTOCK CARVING

Sorry to say, this gun will not be carved. The pattern the customer had choosen would not fit on the gun. So we have elected not to carve the gun. We’ll wait and carve a rifle for their anniversary instead. This will give the customer time to design a custom gunstock carving.

With the snow here and more to come, I’m glad I can stay in out of the cold and enjoy another custom gunstock carving. The gun I am building a pattern for is an Thompson Center Encore pistol. This gun will be a christmas gift from his wife and children.

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CARVED GREENER SHOTGUN

I have been given a unique opportunity to carve a stagecoach on a W. W. Greener replica shotgun. This carved greener shotgun was completed for a great great grandson of the Wells Fargo Stageline. The great great grandfather was one of the original gunmen employeed by the Wells Fargo Stagelines of long ago.

This gun will always remind my customer of his family history. The story is now well preserved, carved here on the replica of his Greener shotgun. He will no doubt hand this gun down to his children and they to their for generations to come.

I have found it very interesting reading the history of the W. W. Greener shotgun. I hope you enjoy learning as much about this as I have.

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W.W.GREENER SHOTGUN

Have you ever wondered what kind of gun they use to carry on the Wells Fargo stagecoaches? After being asked to carve a stagecoach on a W. W.  Greener shotgun replica. I was intrigued to find out how the gun came about.

Wells Fargo stagecoaches where equipped with the W.W. Greener shotgun after the stagecoaches where repeatly robbed. These guns where made by W.W. Greener. The gun was an unmistakable icon of Wells Fargo stage lines. There was always a driver and a gunmen sitting on top of the stagecoaches to protect their passangers and the cargo they carried. The gun  usually was a double barrel 10 gauge shotgun with a double pull. It has a short barrel of only 20 inch in length. The gun is very heavy compared to other shot guns I have held.

After much research, I have found this gun is one of the most reproduced guns in the world. Even gun authenticators have a hard time proving the gun is authentic. Even if a gun marked “Wells Fargo & Co. Express” does not mean it is in fact a W. W. Greener gun. Having the symbols marked on the gun does not mean it is an authentic Greener gun either. The history shows many gun manufactures built this type of gun and would mark it in hopes of fooling the buyer into believing the gun was a real W. W. Greener shotgun. Unless you have paperwork proving complete authenticity and proven by history experts. It is highly likely you do have a authentic W. W. Greener shotgun.

Although the legend lived on in this gun. A authentic W. W. Greener shotgun is one of the most sot after guns today by gun collectors.