An almost matched set of Colt .45 SAA guns

Oh my goodness, I was going to post these weeks ago! How did I forget that, hmm.

These were the "turkey grips" I was working on months ago. The guns were given for Christmas, so I'm allowed to show everything now.

This project included two consecutively serial numbered 2nd Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolvers - .45 caliber 5-1/2” barrels. The client’s objective was to create twin Colts for his daughters that reflected evocative images of personal and family history.

In the case of the father, an oil producer, the image of an oil derrick signifies a successful and rewarding career. Oil Derricks of his design and particular to his company are inlaid in 24 K raised gold on the leading gates. For the recoil shields the father choose 24K raised gold inlays of the athletic logo of The University of Kentucky, (Wildcats - circa 1970-78) his Alma mater. The daughter’s names and birthdates are engraved in script lettering on the backstraps and shovel heads.

The engraving is classic Colt style scrollwork with background removed and dot punched. All borders, factory lettering and the Rampant Colt are inlaid in 24K gold. The Colts are presented in individual custom Oak and Glass Museum cases.

Scrim Subjects: The father is an avid wild turkey hunter and a fan of the artwork of John J. Audubon. The goal was not at all to copy the work of Audubon, but to depict the toms in a similar manner; non-display pose and in their natural settings. On the other sides of the grips the images were more personalized to each daughter. One daughter plays softball in school, and this is her portrait. The other daughter loves horses and has shown and competed in horse sports. This is a portrait of “Little Red,” her beloved horse who died while she was away at college.

The Artists:

Mike Dubber, Master Engraver
Katherine Plumer, Scrim Artist
Jim Aliamo – Ivory Grips
Reliable Plating – Gold Plating
Turnbull Restoration – charcoal bluing
Les Yoder – Museum Cases
Photography – Michael Wheatley

Grip photos by me:



Professional photos by M. Wheatley:

just a tease

I'm writing this first so I don't forget. I know that maybe 2 people in the universe are wondering, so no I am unfortunately not going to be showing at the National down in Ventura this weekend. I wish it would have worked out, but I have nothing to show. I'm going to wait til late winter/early spring to sell birds (please oh please don't anyone email and me what I'm selling, I don't know). Anyway, considering all that, I really couldn't justify making the trip. Sorry. :-(

I finished the almost-matched set of Colt .45 SAA pistol grips tonight, woo hoooooooo!! Well, technically I guess it's morning. *Yawn* They look AWESOME. I'll post what I can when I can. Here's a little tease though in case you have forgotten how teensy these things are. My thumb volunteered to pose for size reference:

Meet my new engraving vise stand:

You're thinking "but wait, that's a drill press." Yes, yes it is. And it's mine! Actually, the one in the box to the right is mine, but it'll look just like that one. And in fact I'm only using the lower part, the base and part of the post, and most importantly that round platform thingy. A friend of mine is going to use the top part... what most people would consider the functional part! So it was a little interesting explaining this at the store today...

checkout lady: would you be interested in the 3 year protection plan?
me: no thanks
guy helping me haul the thing: ooh, you really should, it's a good deal
me: well..... okay I hate to say this, but I'm actually going to have it cut in half. I'm using the lower half as part of an engraving bench, and a friend is taking the upper half to turn it into a radial drill press.
(flabbergasted people faces)
guy helping me haul the thing: wow, that is amazing
checkout lady then asks me to explain engraving and how this drill press helps me

I have to say it was pretty fun to say "I'd like to buy that drill press." Those words don't escape me too often.

Okay, so I'm not doing any scrim tomorrow, unless it's just a few more dots if I need to touch up the grips at all. I have 4 projects to sketch out, so I'll do that, plus some paperwork to catch up on. And I should probably start cleaning up the studio. The more organized it is, the easier it will be to take things out and put them back, currently scheduled for this weekend. Ooh new table should arrive tomorrow!

I'm putting flannel sheets on my bed, it's time. Tonight. And then I'm going to go to bed and I'm not getting up early.

oh you know, stuff

No work in progress pics tonight, things are at a slightly ugly stopping point. I have the first layer of background down and it's pale and very unfinished. Kinda like half dressed. I hate to leave you with something ugly. I've made some changes to the original background plan. It was going to be very leafy, like the turkeys were up against plants. But it's easy to forget that when your art piece is only an inch and a half tall it doesn't "read" the same as the full sheet of paper on which I sketched it! I didn't like the leafyness, too busy looking and I was afraid it would kinda pull the focus away from the birds.

When I finish these grips I am going to be making some big changes to the "engraving bench" as I will come to call it. I haven't used the engraving vise for months, it was too uncomfortable. But I NEED to get into metal engraving and therefore NEED the vise, and also need to avoid the really funky back pain that accompanies being in an awkward position all day, so I'm getting some new equipment and will probably be cutting a large hole (U-shape) out of my desk into which the vise will be placed. That'll make more sense when it happens. But I gotta get these grips done, that's priority.

I had started to ramble on here about another topic but I'm going to leave that for another day.

October 4 work in progress

I had to get up at 5:30 this morning to take 30something birds to auction. Oh how fun (not). It was nice to go back to bed when I got home!

I feel pretty much all better although I've been freezing cold all day (weird). Olin's foot has healed up after a thorn was removed on Wednesday, and these turkeys I'm scrimming are the CUTEST DARN THINGS ever. Seriously, I totally gush over them. The backgrounds are going to be pale to mid tone and pretty soft, since there is soooo much detail in these birds.

Earlier today:

Later today:

I am thinking now it may make more sense to sell birds in the spring when they are older and I can really judge their quality and price them accordingly. I really have no idea what to do about going to Ventura, but tonight I lean toward having to miss it. Blarg.

September 23 work in progress

Well, they didn't quite end up at the same stage today, oh well! Late. Tired. Bed.

September 21 work in progress, etc.

I keep thinking these turkeys are taking about twice as long as they should, but then I realize that kinda makes sense, because if I'm working on two, then yes each one will take about twice as long individually. Me so smart. :-) I know someone is probably dying to point out that I've forgotten their beards, so let me just assure you I have not forgotten. I'll get there.


I finally ordered some new business cards. They won't have a chicken on them. Gasp! Yes, it seemed like time, besides I really wanted to emphasize the scrimshaw. So I'm trying out one of those online places where you upload your design and they mail the items. We shall see.

Conveniently I get to do a little comparison with another online printing place, because last month I won a drawing for 250 free custom printed postcards. I've been working on my design (to advertise scrim) but really would like to include one of these turkey grips if I can finish up by next Monday. Hmmm.... I'm really pushing to get these done but there are only so many dots a person can make in a day before it's bed time again.

I have applied again for the miniature show in Jackson Hole. They hardly take any new people each year, but it's worth a try. It may take a lifetime but I'm determined to be in that show (okay, and I really really really want to go back to Jackson Hole!). I'll know by March.

Reminder to me: print portfolio pics.

September 18 work in progress

September 17 work in progress

There is actually more done than what you can see, it's just not inked.

Have I ever mentioned how incredibly slow and tedious this is? :-) If not, wow this is so slow and tedious. A person would have to be sort of crazy to enjoy it... ha!

September 15 work in progress

Okay, I need to do work in progress pics. It inspires me to work quickly, and I need to work quickly. These are a set of almost-but-not-quite matching Colt .45 SAA grips with wild turkeys on them.