Custom Carved International Sportsman’s Expo. If anyone doesn’t know by now, the International Sportsman’s Expo is going to be held in Salt Lake City, UT at the South Town Expo center. The show will be starting this Thursday, March 17, 2011, at noon. I will have a booth there displaying my custom carved guns and taking orders for YOUR very own custom carved gun stock. Please come and visit me at the expo. I would really enjoy meeting you and discussing the design you would like me to carve on your gun stock.

All of my guns have a custom carved/sculpted scene, (some with the basket weave pattern) and are hand painted. Each gun is a one of a kind work of art. Collectors, nationwide, have begun collecting my guns. Why not have your gun customized with your favorite hunting scene or memory. You will want to hand this gun down from generation to generation. Not to mention the “double” bragging rights you will have. Bragging rights #1 – the actual hunt. Bragging rights #2 – your own custom carved gun stock with your favorite hunting scene.  

I hope everyone will take the opportunity to come and enjoy the International Sportsman’s Expo while the it is going on. The dates are March 17, 18, 19, 20, 2011. Check the web site, International Sportsman’s Expo, for more information on this event.

See you there!!!! Deb – Proudly endorsed by the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF)

This project has taken a while to start, but the finished out come will be worth it. A custom carved gun stock for a Savage model 29. Yes, it is an old gun. I have been asked to carve/engrave a squirrel sitting on the branch of a tree on this gun stock. The pictures above are just a few I have found that I am considering. Which one should I use? Hmmmm Guess you will have to check back later to see which one I used.  The gun stock is smaller then a normal rifle. This might prove to be some what of a challenge. Carving/engraving a smaller gun stock means doing everything smaller than I normally do. Still, the gun stock will be custom carved/engraved and then I will hand paint the art work to bring out the detail. This gun has been handed down from generation to generation. I am sure it will continue to through the family for many more years to come. Well, here I go! I can’t wait to get started!

Pictures will be coming soon of the finished custom carved/engraved gun stock.

Happy Carving! Deb

Happy New Years everyone!!! I sure hope everyone has enjoyed this holiday season. Today I have been thinking about the goals I would like to accomplish with my custom carved gun stocks this year. In doing so, it has given me a chance to looked back on the goals I have accomplished last year. It still amazes me how many goals I was accomplished. So, for this reason I am going to set goals for my custom carving even higher this year. The first one is to attend 3 major gun shows within this year.

I am scheduled to be a vendor at the upcoming Las Vegas Antique Arms Show™International Sporting Arms Show™ Invitational Knifemakers Showing™ in Las Vegas NV. The show will be held at the Riviera Hotel on January 14th thru January 16th, 2011. The show is being sponsored by the NRA (National Rifle Association). I will be there with several of the guns I have listed here on my web site. Some of the other guns being displaying have been borrowed from my customers who love to show them off. This Las Vegas Antique Arms Show™ International Sporting Arms Show™ Invitational Knifemakers Show™ should prove to be the best of the year. I am looking forward to meeting many new people.

Gun collectors and enthusis’ alike will be there. As I’m sure you know by  now, my gun stocks are all hand carved/engraved and hand painted. Each design has first been molded into clay then many practice pieces are carved/engraved before I start on the final piece. This process helps me to insure the custom carving will look exactly like it should on each gun stock. Customers who have purchased wood sculpting/carving/engraving from me in the past are simply amazed at the detail and clarity each piece has. Come to the gun show and judge for yourself. Then you can see why everyone who looks at the pictures on my web site all say “the pictures do not do justice to the art on the guns.” Wouldn’t you like to hand down your guns from generations to generation?

If you have the chance to come to the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show™International Sporting Arms Show™ Invitational Knifemakers Show™, please look me up. I would really enjoy meeting you and placing your name on my waiting. Then you will also have bragging rights and can show everyone your own custom carved gun stock.

Happy New Year to all, Deb

January 14 through 16, 2011, there will be the largest gun show held in Las Vegas, NV. This will be the next gun show I will be attending. This gun show is at the Riviera Hotel & Casino. The show is called the International Sporting Arms Show. This gun show is also sponsored by the NRA. I have put a link here for anyone who would like to know more about the gun show.

International Sproting Arm Show

I will have a few new custom carved guns on display. There are many of my guns that are for sale. Many of the guns have the basket weave design. As well as, some very unique patterns on the forend and grip. All of the guns are custom carved with one of a kind designs and are hand painted. Gun collectors world wide will enjoy adding these unique pieces of art to their collections. Not to mention the other ways in which you can have your own gun custom carved or engraved. Why not tell a story to hand down to your children? Or you can have a custom carving of a scene from one of your favorite hunting trips. What about your company’s logo for that special customer or top sales representative? All are possible to have custom carved on your gun stock. Give me a call so we can discuss what you would like on your gun stock.

I look forward to meeting you at the upcoming gun show. Please stop by the booth while you are there. Also, I enjoy hearing from you. Your comments are greatly welcome. Please feel free to leave yours below. Happy Hunting! Deb

Have we lost our heritage? How many people have given this any thought? I for one have. While custom carving this coach gun shot gun, I began wondering this very thing. With out Wells Fargo Bank to carry on the tradition of using the stagecoachs for their advertising. We would have lost this beautiful image years ago. The old west is fast becoming lost to our modern ways of life.

The picture above is a very rough carving of the pattern to be put on the coach gun.

This is yet another reason I decided to carve the abandoned stage coach on the ICA coach gun. Not only will this custom carved coach gun preserve the memories and the history of the old west. It also adds trememdous value to any gun collector’s personal collection. This gun will be hand carved and hand painted. There will not be enough room for the basket weave pattern to be put on this gun. Is this something that you are looking for on your gun? If so please drop me a line or call me to discuss your options and what you would like on your gun.

Your comments would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to leave them below.

(Picture found on the web. This is not the actual gun I will be carving.)

I have found my next project. After many people have asked to see the W. W. Greener shot gunor coach gun I carved last year. I decided I would custom carve  another Greener replica shot gun. This gun will have an old abandoned stagecoach on the gun stock. I will be hand painting the scene as well. As to the forend and grip of this gun. I have not determined if I will add a custom carved design to these areas. Time will tell… This gun will make a fantastic addition for any gun collector. Not to mention it will preserve our history.

If you are interested in learning more about the W. W. Greener guns. You can read what I have written in an earlier blog post http://deblindsaystudios.com/carved-greener-shotgun/ .  Normally, I find a lot of my information on the gun manufacturers web site. I also use the www.wikipedia.com web site. Here is discussion board I recently found. You can post your comments and other people can respond to you. This particular discussion board is on the W. W. Greener Shotgun.

I don’t know how many other people enjoy learning about the history of guns, but I find it very fascinating. Guns have helped us throughout history. History has proven guns are a large part of our past. Have you ever wondered where we would be without them?

Pictures will be posted as I complete this project. Thanks for checking back and for your comments. Happy carving! Deb

As you can see the Winchester 7MM Mag I started a month ago is finally finished. The fighting elk has been custom carved on the Winchester 7mm MAG. You may remember the past posts of how I have develope this carving from start to finish. I hope you have enjoyed the process. I’m sure you can tell it is not an easy process. Still, to me it is very enjoyable.

I refinished this gun by sanding down the gun stock then resealing it. This took the majority of the scratches out of the gun. Then I carved the scene onto the gun stock. This gun has the basket weave on both sides of the grip as well as on both sides forend as well as the bottom of the forend. T0 finish the gun, I have custom painted the scene onto the gun using oil paints. It truly is a work of art. Then I have applied a coat of finish to seal everything.

I have also checked to see what year this gun was manufactured, 1970. The gun still have many years of use left. It has given me great pleasure to carve and paint this scene on this gun. Your comments are appreciated. Please feel free to leave them below.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope to see you in person at the Cross Roads of the West Gun Show this coming September 25 & 26, 2010. The show will be held at the South Towne Expo in Salt Lake City, UT. Deb L

I have been asked many time why I chose to carve or engrave gun stocks? Instead of carving eggs, gourds, engrave on glass, etc. Well, my husband is an avid hunter. He loves guns and has aquired quite a collection. We usually go to the gun shows that are in the Salt Lake valley. One time, as we where getting out of our truck, he said to me: “Its your turn to buy something. What do you want? What kind of gun do you want to buy?” I told him, “I didn’t know.” I would look for something while where in the gun show. When we entered the gun show, I heard the wine of a dental drill. At least that is what I thought I heard. We went to that booth to see what it was. Sure enough it was a high speed pen that used dental bits. Called the Paragrave. I was allowed to try the tool. I  immediately fell in love with it. We wondered around the show for about another two hours. Came back to that same booth and purchased the tool.

Since that time I have tried my hand at engraving rocks, tile, eggs, glass, mirrors, metal and everything else I could get my hands on. In February 2009, I went to my first carving class with Dr. Lew Jensen, inventor of the Paragrave high speed pen. Again, we carved all kinds of differnet materials. Out of them all I have found I enjoy carving or sculpting wood. It is the medium I have found gives me the more enjoyment and the most challengs.

Then I asked Allen to allow me to carve on one of his guns. You can imagine what he said to that. He believed I could carve the guns. He just didn’t want me to begin on one of his guns. His collectors guns!!! NO WAY! So, he went to the local pawn shop and purchased me a Marlin 30-30 with a stainless steel barrel. The first carving I ever completed was a grizzle bear. After finishing the grizzle bear he wanted it. I told him NO. He purchased it for me and I was going to sell the gun. Now he wished he would have allowed me to carve on one of his guns. Reason being, I am quite busy now and of course his guns are the last ones on my list…

I enjoy creating custom gun stocks. Carving beautiful works of art to be handed down from generations to generations. Watching the expression of a gun owner see their prize possession again for the first time, is a real treat to me. They can not quit looking at the gun. You see, I not only carve the gun stock, I paint the sceen too. If it is necessary I will also sand the stock down and refinish it. Making the gun almost brand new again. The sky’s the limit almost.

Thanks for asking this question. I have enjoyed answering it. If you have a question about sculpting wood. Please ask your question below. I enjoy hearing from you. Deb L

I am asking this question of my readers. What animal would you like to see me carve next? I have custom carved, or engraved, many animals on different gun stocks over the year. I have enjoyed carving each and every one. Some of them are more challenging then others. Still, I get a tremendous satisfaction from completing each carving or engraving I do. Now, I am wondering if there is a certain animal you would like to see carved? To date I have carved elk, moose, mule deer, a mountain lion, grizzly bear, and mountain goats to mention a few.

There are lots more animals out there to be carved. Which one should it be? Help me decide by commenting below. You will be the one making this decision for me this time. So hurry and leave your choice below in the comment section. I will be adding the basket weave and something else to the forend and/or grip of the gun.

Here are a few ideas. Please do not limit your decision on just these pictures. Antelope, Black Bear, Big Horn Sheep to name a few.

I will keep a tally of requests. The highest number will decide the next carving. The decision date will be August 15th. I will post the results here on my blog. The gun will be for sell and on display at the Cross Roads of the West Gun Show in Salt Lake City, Utah, this coming September 25 & 26, 2010. I’m sure this gun will make any gun collector proud. Will that person be you?

Thanks for participating in this decision! Deb L

I thought everyone would like to see what has happened so far on the custom carving process of the Winchester 7mm MAG. As you know after choosing the pattern to be carved on the gun stock. I will then mold the carving into clay. This gives me the depth and helps me to know how many layers there will be in the carving. I can also play with the clay and redesign the pattern if it does not work out or makes the carving to deep.

After molding the design in clay, I will then carve a sample of the design. This helps me to get a very good prospective as to how it will look on the gun stock. It also helps me to see where the design may need to be changed. I also have found on some samples the subject will have to be placed in a different area. I have carved up to 12 samples of a carving before I am happy with the design.

When I am satisfied with the sample carving I will then carve the gun stock. I will have more pictures of this gun as it progresses. Check back often to see the progress. Thanks for visiting my web site. Deb Lindsay