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3:26 pm
NWBA Member
April 22, 2010
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I know this is going to start some off topic political discussion, but thats not my intent here.
I have a good friend who was very close to the people shot at Cafe Racer last year in Seattle, and she is working with the City of Seattle on a gun buy back program, where people who own guns but no longer want them sell them back to the City, and they are destroyed.
They are proposing that a group of artists make art from the guns. The Seattle Police Department would supervise making them inoperable. Some of these guns will probably be sent to Nucor, where they will be melted down and returned as rebar, which artists and metalworkers could then use. But there is also a possibility that some will be "processed" by either a big press or a hammer, and then made into art.
If anyone is interested in making art from some of these decommissioned firearms, please contact me at rniemi-at-fidalgo.net, and I can help get you involved.
There is the possibility of larger, outdoor pieces, or possibly smaller, more domestically scaled stuff.
Again, I am not trying to rile anybody up here, as I know a lot of my friends are NOT interested in melting down guns, but if you are interested, this is an interesting opportunity.
A similar program, about ten or twelve years ago, in Rhode Island, resulted in a bunch of different scales of artwork, including pieces from my friend Boris Bally-
http://www.amusingplanet.com/2.....-bally.htm
4:54 pm
January 18, 2011
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Wish I was closer I'd like to get involved. I don't know why anyone would object, heck I like guns and would love to own/create a scrap gun sculpture.......I'm off to the Tanner gun show.....:smoke:
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
12:09 am
NWBA Member
April 19, 2010
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OOOOH: A gun hammer(sorry)in....I'm a gun person too,but the chance to take a bunch an make something neat sounds great.. Count me in. Especially if we can have a group go at it!!
3:29 am
September 24, 2012
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Ries, I know this is a loaded issue. I understand the points of view from both sides very well. If you have direct contact to person(s) affiliated with any gun buy back program(s), please communicate this:
If you wish to accomplish the reduction in the total number of guns floating out in society, and are attempting to "buy back" said items, please don't be an insulting doof and offer like 100-200 dollars per gun! If I was hurting for cash and was considering parting with my iron, why would I do so for like 1/3 of the fair market value or purchase price? Seriously, if I pay 400-600 for a handgun and 700-1200 for an assault rifle why would I cough them up for 100-200?
>insert picture of perplexed looking canine trying to learn 3 human languages at once< Master Ries, I know you are only the messenger, no ill will in your direction.
3:33 am
October 19, 2011
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A gun is a work of art in itself why would some idiot want to defile it ????
2:23 pm
NWBA Member
April 22, 2010
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I am not in any way in contact with the group that is doing the overall buyback.
I have a friend who is trying to do this art aspect with some of the guns.
She has her own personal reasons for this- she has been involved in the arts for decades, and managed the art shows at Cafe Racer, and was close friends with most of the five people shot there.
Usually the way it works is the police, who run the buyback, check the guns serial numbers to see if they are stolen, and, if so, offer them back to the original owners.
If not, they are usually just destroyed.
Rather than just throwing them into Nucor's feed stream, she wants to get some artists and craftsmen involved to make something from them. To me, thats more, not less.
At this event, as at many similar events around the country, there have been private buyers across the street, offering to beat the buyback price.
As I understand it, the private buyers decline to buy quite a large percentage of these guns- many are NOT worth a hundred bucks. Certainly a 40 year old Taurus .22 revolver that sold for a hundred bucks new is no work of art.
Some are, of course, and some people choose to sell to the private buyers.
But it seems to me that if someone really doesnt want the gun, and is willing to accept a hundred bucks (or nothing- in Seattle, it seems, when the money ran out halfway thru the buy, lots of people just left their guns anyway, getting no money), those people should have the right to do whatever they want with their property.
Anyone who knows me knows I have been making art about guns for decades- since at least the early 70's, guns have been a major subject of my art, in many different mediums, including metal.
5:05 pm
October 19, 2011
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But it seems to me that if someone really doesnt want the gun, and is willing to accept a hundred bucks (or nothing- in Seattle, it seems, when the money ran out halfway thru the buy, lots of people just left their guns anyway, getting no money), those people should have the right to do whatever they want with their property.
Anyone who knows me knows I have been making art about guns for decades- since at least the early 70's, guns have been a major subject of my art, in many different mediums, including metal.
Just as I have the right to have an opinion ......
5:44 pm
March 22, 2010
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I would love to help and would even offer up my space as a spot to do a collaboration. I think weapons can be beautiful things, not in use but form. I am all for the guns being collected ending up as art rather than scrap.
I knew most of the guys who died at Cafe Racer, I even presented them with a hand built award that I think still sits at Cafe Racer... Listening to Gods Favorite Beefcake in my shop is always inspirational
As you know Ries I think guns belong in the hands of the people, so art made from guns in the hands of people I accept as a compromise....
Whatever you are, be a good one.
Abraham Lincoln
6:18 pm
January 18, 2011
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Clifford Brewer;17221 wrote: A gun is a work of art in itself why would some idiot want to defile it ????
Every gun is wanted.
Every gun is good.
Every gun is needed
In your neighbourhood.......:dance:
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
7:53 pm
NWBA Member
February 17, 2011
Offline
I've got a few octagonal muzzleloader barrels from black powder rifles that are no longer functional. (I confirmed with the manufacturer that they are beyond repair).
I've seen some very nice pipe tomahawks made with these kinds of barrels before- the best ones, in my opinion, are those that retain the octagonal shape of the barrel for the bowl of the pipe, and even better when they retain some of the stamping/engraving on the original barrels. It makes the tomahawks really have a "frontier" look to them when you can easily see they were forged from black powder rifle barrels.
I'm not good enough at forge welding and hawk shaping yet to be comfortable using this limited supply of barrels I have- but I've got them for when I'm ready. (I've only made a few hawks so far, and they were the folded type with a bit forge welded in.)
I'm curious if anyone has made pipe hawks from muzzleloaders like this before, or has similar projects made from old octagonal rifle barrels.
--Tracy
7:51 pm
NWBA Member
September 29, 2011
Offline
...maybe happier if it's a really hot gun. I would love to have a gun to mash in the right places. In fact, several. I'm seeing hand guns somehow, but if there are assault rifles, a person should be able to do something interesting with that. It could be fun, and might produce a meaningful piece. Call me an idiot without worrying about getting shot. Maybe they would be available at spring conference.
12:17 am
NWBA Member
April 22, 2010
Offline
I like squishing all kinds of things- I have a tray in my shop where all steel parts that are no longer good get tossed- used chainsaw chains, brackets, bolts with stripped threads, rusty hinges, etc.
Every so often I feed all the stuff in that bin thru the forge, and then thru the power hammer, and, when its a uniform 1/4" thick, make baskets or other products out of it.
I would love to see a 38 revolver after it went in the forge, and larry's big press (He has several, but one is at least 200 tons) squished it down like a pancake. Or a cheap 22 rifle- just put the barrel in first, then do the action, leave the stock sorta charred but unsquished...
11:22 pm
January 18, 2011
Offline
Here's one I did back in the early 80's. It was a commission for a VFW hall or some such I can't remember. My part in the sculpture is obvious, that is I roasted,bent and welded the rifles together. There was one from the USA,Japan,Italy and Germany.
Most of the guns were crap but the 03 Springfield was a peach, probly worth $6-800 today. I didn't want to wreck that one but the guy who actually used it in combat was not to be swayed....
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
7:53 am
NWBA Member
November 1, 2010
Offline
Hi Tracy
Yes I have made a few. Not to difficult, kind of a neat trick. I weld in a piece of spring for the cutting edge. I have a couple pieces of barrel I plan to make into hawks some day soon. I'll let you know before hand if you're interested.
Mike
Tracy Lauricella;17226 wrote: I've got a few octagonal muzzleloader barrels from black powder rifles that are no longer functional. (I confirmed with the manufacturer that they are beyond repair).
I've seen some very nice pipe tomahawks made with these kinds of barrels before- the best ones, in my opinion, are those that retain the octagonal shape of the barrel for the bowl of the pipe, and even better when they retain some of the stamping/engraving on the original barrels. It makes the tomahawks really have a "frontier" look to them when you can easily see they were forged from black powder rifle barrels.
I'm not good enough at forge welding and hawk shaping yet to be comfortable using this limited supply of barrels I have- but I've got them for when I'm ready. (I've only made a few hawks so far, and they were the folded type with a bit forge welded in.)
I'm curious if anyone has made pipe hawks from muzzleloaders like this before, or has similar projects made from old octagonal rifle barrels.
--Tracy
5:50 pm
January 18, 2011
Offline
Tracy Lauricella;17226 wrote:
I'm curious if anyone has made pipe hawks from muzzleloaders like this before, or has similar projects made from old octagonal rifle barrels.--Tracy
I made this one from a .50 cal. octagon bbl, you can just make out the octagon shape on the bowl. I made 15 of em back in the mid 70's for the trading post store at Bents Fort, La Junta CO commissioned by the National Park Service. Every one of them smelled kinda funny when they were delivered....:smoke:...hehe.
Making a teardrop shaped mandrel/drift for the handles was a real pain in butt....
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
2:39 am
NWBA Member
September 29, 2011
Offline
Even at a tender age you were doing nice work.
7:21 am
NWBA Member
April 19, 2010
Offline
Okay I'll show my ignorance. I always see the bowl(or is it the mouthpiece?) on these pipe/hawks but where is the mouthpiece???Do you have to remove the head??? My favorite pipes are little wooden ones...
12:42 pm
January 18, 2011
Offline
Eric Sprado;17311 wrote: Okay I'll show my ignorance. I always see the bowl(or is it the mouthpiece?) on these pipe/hawks but where is the mouthpiece???Do you have to remove the head??? My favorite pipes are little wooden ones...
There's a hole through the length of the handle. When they were traded to the Indians the had no handle (at least the common ones like the one I made). Google pipe tomahawk and you'll see many versions of the one I made because it was among the most common patterns used for trade, which is just what the NPS wanted for the General Store re creation.The Indians had plenty of time to sit in their teepees and whittle away. The hole could be burned through or a branch could be split and then gouge a channel down either side, then put back together (like a blow gun) and wrapped with wire or rawhide. I doubt they were ever thrown with that much work involved but they were used for fighting.
When I visited Bent's fort 10 years ago my hawks were still there (not for sale anyway) and I took this pic of the three types I made. I brought along an unfinished blank (upper left) and the breach plug is just visible at the opposite end of the octagon bowl.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
— Dr. Seuss
4:14 am
NWBA Member
February 17, 2011
Offline
Mike J;17308 wrote: Hi Tracy
Yes I have made a few. Not to difficult, kind of a neat trick. I weld in a piece of spring for the cutting edge. I have a couple pieces of barrel I plan to make into hawks some day soon. I'll let you know before hand if you're interested.
Mike
yes, please do, I'd love to "peer over your shoulder" while you work. I've made a few hawks before by wrapping mild steel around a drift and forge welding a piece of an old file- but I don't yet have the skill to make my welds stick reliably, and I haven't quite got the shaping down right yet, so I don't want to use up my limited supply of muzzleloader barrels until I do. I should probably just make a few by slitting round stock and practicing drawing out the blade in mild steel to get the hang of it.
4:14 am
NWBA Member
February 17, 2011
Offline
Bruce Macmillan;17309 wrote: I made this one from a .50 cal. octagon bbl, you can just make out the octagon shape on the bowl. I made 15 of em back in the mid 70's for the trading post store at Bents Fort, La Junta CO commissioned by the National Park Service. Every one of them smelled kinda funny when they were delivered....:smoke:...hehe.
Making a teardrop shaped mandrel/drift for the handles was a real pain in butt....
Beautiful work Bruce!
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