| Project by Eric M. Saperstein | posted 01-06-2012 07:44 AM | 3236 views | 1 time favorited | 7 comments |  |
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There’s actually two different shotguns here – an old Ward single shot 12ga and an Ithica Pump 12 gauge. The single shot has a family history – uncle Joe the bookie and rum runner of the family apparently had that years back in his mafia days. I never got to meet him, but it seems I have his shotgun to remember that every family has their interesting characters.
The Ithica we carved for a friend’s father’s Christmas gift, he liked the pattern on mine so my father did a rendition of it slightly altered.
Mine hangs over my fireplace in a set of bookcases I made when I first moved into my house. Funny – my carving on those bookcases 12 years ago doesn’t look like something I would want to sell now!
I still have seven old shotguns in the safe that one day I intend to carve … one day when I retire and have a few minutes of free time!
-- Eric M. Saperstein, Master Craftsman www.artisansofthevalley.com
7 comments so far
a1Jim
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#1 posted 01-06-2012 08:18 AM
interesting family history .
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
Woodwrecker
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#2 posted 01-06-2012 02:57 PM
Kind of interesting that you mix a culture icon like the flag and eagle, on a gun stock belonging to an outlaw.
The bookcase on which it is hung is very nice.
Jimthecarver
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#3 posted 01-06-2012 03:23 PM
Cool carving…. I hope to have a M 77 Ruger finished in the next couple of days. It is very tedious work to carve gun stocks.
Thanks for sharing.
-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.
Charles Maxwell
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#4 posted 01-06-2012 04:27 PM
A story that can be readily told in ‘anytown’ New Jersey! Quite a storied past. Awesome gun stock. Absolutely love the carving – beautiful. Got your email about the clock . . . we can talk. I have 3 commissions on the table now and it could be a while before I get to a forth clock! I have September delivery dates for the current commissions. Perhaps after September.
-- Max the "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com
helluvawreck
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#5 posted 01-06-2012 04:39 PM
Eric, you do beautiful work.
helluvawreck
https://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
Eric M. Saperstein
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#6 posted 01-06-2012 05:54 PM
Thanks for the feedback …
Yes – I like irony! Outlaws, Eagles, Guns, Flags, etc … this country is a mix of it all. Geeze Moonshiners and Weed Wars is now a TV series!
Think about it the mafia helped out w/ intelligence in WWII … some of the most prominent families in the country ran whiskey, rum, etc … I have a project pending w/ one of Joe Kennedy’s old piano company crates, rumored to have been used for the import of Irish whiskey during prohibition. Should be a unique project!
Max – let me know, no rush. Figured it would be a while just get into the queue. I gotta deliver some things and get paid someday anyway to output more cash! If you need deposits to get in the queue let me know.
Thanks guys!
Eric
-- Eric M. Saperstein, Master Craftsman www.artisansofthevalley.com
Tom "BUG" Janos
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#7 posted 01-09-2012 07:38 AM
I love it. Very well done.
-- Bug from Minnesota. Creating Designer Firewood Since 2006
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