Anybody know anything about Kearsarge stocks? Supposedly made 50-60 years ago, carved with designs, for N-frames. There is a pair for sale on eBay now. First I've ever heard of them. ???
Kearsarge stocks
- Thread starter PALADIN85020
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
OP
Anybody know anything about Kearsarge stocks? Supposedly made 50-60 years ago, carved with designs, for N-frames. There is a pair for sale on eBay now. First I've ever heard of them. ???
There is a very good thread from about a year or so ago.
Later, Mike Priwer
Later, Mike Priwer
OP
Those grips are identical to the pair on eBay.
geoff40
Member
FWIW, the eBay grips are most likely modified, and not by the man who carved Kearsarge. He would almost certainly have surrounded the stars with oak leafs, not seen on one of the grips. I find myself wondering if somebody modified a set of Kearsarge grips, by first sanding off a lot of the original dimension. The small amount of background "dotting" within the wood is another clue. Very strange how that just sort of fades away, like no set of Kearsarge any of us ever saw. I doubt he would not have used genuine ivory either. Finally, the design with the star does not appear to function as any sort of finger/hand wrap around the panels. It is not a part of a hand fit, in other words, something he was an expert at.
I have sent this link to his family and they agree the stars are not original to the grips and that their father is not who modified this set of grips..
I have sent this link to his family and they agree the stars are not original to the grips and that their father is not who modified this set of grips..
The pictures raised some concerns with me also. Although the stars are well formed and appear three dimensional, the inletting seems sub par. My gut feeling is that they were added well after the grips were made although I can't offer any concrete basis for that feeling.
There is also a real asymetry in the contour of the butt in the two panels. The bottom of the left grip seems much more rounded (like a later Smith PC grip) and that makes me wonder if that grip might have been chipped and then refinished.
It is certainly beautiful wood, though.
Bob
There is also a real asymetry in the contour of the butt in the two panels. The bottom of the left grip seems much more rounded (like a later Smith PC grip) and that makes me wonder if that grip might have been chipped and then refinished.
It is certainly beautiful wood, though.
Bob
Since I'm in a postin mood I'll chime in here also. I think what is visible is grain in the wood not stippling. Also the escutcheon looks right in the star, not an easy thing to do later without leaving evidence. I think Mr. Wendell began like most, doing it for a hobby and this set could be him just trying something else for a change. On the few sets I have held in my hands and some pictured in other postings on the forum the inletting looks very familiar to me as learning in progress. The placement of his carving looks right also and was well planned and not just put anywhere for looks. It's all just a guess, but that makes it fun.
Keith
Keith
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
