Engraving Historic Firearms

John Schipper's book is about the art of engraving and his journey with this art form. Do not be fooled by the title into believing that this is just a book for those looking to become an engraver of firearms. For those interested in learning the engraving craft, the text, illustrations, and photos will take you from a basic explanation of the tools through how to use them and what to engrave with them - the basics of tool selection, sharpening, design, layout, and cutting of the design. The clear illustrations will guide the reader through which element of the design to cut first and take them through the entire series of cuts to produce the simplest "nick and dot" border or complex element of a finished design. You will be guided by several views showing the cutter from above and head-on so you will get a full understanding of all the movements required to produce the intended cut. A single element is taken through small changes to show the many possibilities available to engravers to open their eyes and minds to the options before them. The section on borders is the most extensive I've ever seen in one place, and each one is explained in depth from first to last cut. You'll see how each of these elements is brought together to create a sum much greater than the separate pieces. It is this guidance that prevails throughout the book and takes the reader places they would never get to on their own without years of trial and error, if ever. The book is spiral bound so it will lie flat on the workbench and can be kept close for reference. The difference between this book and so many others is the clear understanding of the craft covered and how well it is conveyed to the reader. John's insight into how to teach and what to teach makes this one of the best books I have seen on teaching a craft. At 446 pages and 2130 illustrations this is a book that will be the go-to volume when questions arise or the quest for ideas is underway--Mike Yazel