Bruce Bump - ABS Mastersmith...!

SharpByCoop

SharpByCoop

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 8, 2001
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It's little surprise to most that Bruce's induction this year was well-deserved. Well, I've been VERY fortunate to have Bruce contact me to do a display of one of his latest pieces. How cool is THAT??!! :D

Well, you folks have seen this little gem in his website banner, but that was only a tease. Bruce is the master of the pistol/knife combo, which is a functional black-powder period piece.

I'll go on more, but let's cut to the chase...

Knife side
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Gun side
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You just can't believe the precision and fit of this complex piece. It's taken the breath away from anyone who saw it. You need to stare and look closely at every single component to see how utterly complex and superb this is. For example, the guard for the trigger is also the spring for the firing pin.

Also, I don't know which craftsman just finished up the bluing/engraving/inlay work, but this is also top-level workmanship and artistry.

That's a little rod that slips out of the back of the handle to pack in 11 grains of black powder along with a wad and a 22cal. ball. (I hope I got that right :confused: ) It's held in place with a little spring-loaded ball detent. There is engineering in every corner of this piece.

Anyway, I'll let Bruce chime in and fill in the missing details and bask in the glow for a spell. Work like this makes me very happy to be involved in custom knives. Bruce, thanks again!

Coop

(Oh, and about the shots. I took over 60 pics and worked a number of images repeatedly. I decided there was NO WAY I could capture all the essence of this fine piece in a single rectangle. Also if I did a two-pager, this could act as a sort of 'centerfold' for his portfolio. I hope you like the images. I really tried hard to do a good set for him.)
 
I have no words to describe what a beautiful one of a kind piece, by Bruce. Simply great pics Coop.

Ken Beatty
 
Holy moley! Not only are the obvious things like overall precision and craftsmanship amazing, but the choice of colors is great too. The bold blue and white playing off the subtle coppery bolster and blade, then the gold accents here and there and the trigger. This isn't just a safe queen, it should be a museum piece.

And great photos to boot.
 
:eek: Words fail me. If this will be displayed at Blade or any other show in the Augusta area, I would very much like to see it.
 
Well Coop your photography skills were certainly up to the task of capturing the terrifc details of that wonderful piece. No surprise there. Great images. Bruce is a seriously talented guy.

Roger
 
Coop,those pictures of Bruces Pistol folder are fantastic!
I know that the engraving-gold inlay-scrimshaw work was done by another person (sorry I can't remeber the name even though Bruce has told me a few times) But Bruce did the blueing and even did the gold plating himself.

You have to see one of Bruce's pistols in person to really apriceate all the details and great Craftsmanship he puts into one of these.I am Honored to call him my friendand can only hope to someday make my knives as great as he does.
Bruce
 
Oops. No pics for short while. FotoTime sent an announcement last week that they would be down for 12 hours today. I should have posted them from my website folder. :(

That said, I have uploaded them to BF servers in this and my original post.

Lastly--guys, it's more about Bruce's work and not about mine. If I do my job well, the piece looks almost as good as in person. That's the quest!

Coop

And an open thanks to Keith for the prompting and support on this project! :)
 
Thanks guys for the very kind words, Im swelled by the compliments. I have had this gun done a couple of times but the owner wanted it disassembled and sent out for the engraving and gold wire inlay also the scrim on the new grips and gold plated screws, (thanks to Andrew Mclurkin) I plated the hammer and trigger myself. I compared some costs and decided to buy the gold plating rectifier and try it. It is so much fun its hard to stop plating stuff. I also was instructed to use 14K gold studs with white sapphires and to re-blue the parts before reassembling. It was abit of a learning experience but gratifying.

Enough cant be said about the high quality photos by Coop. He really went out of his way to help me out and comes highly reccomended. It has been said of many knives that "pictures dont do the piece justice" but all of Jims photos are of such high clarity that this old "cliche" cant be used. Thankyou Jim!

Some specs:

Name: LOVE and WAR

blade and bolsters: 3000 layers of 1084/15n20/pure nickel
liner: stainless, heat colored
grips: pre-ban ivory from David Warther (w/document)
gun frame: 1018 w/barrel liner
load: 30 grain lead .22 cal slugs, 11 grains of black powder
ignition: #11 cap
embellishments: Jere Davidson (engraving,scrim,gold wire inlays)
bluing: hot gun blued on frame and blade and bolsters.
studs: 14K gold w/ 4mm white sapphires
hammer and trigger: O-1 w/14K gold plating
trigger guard/hammer spring: 1095 spring tempered
screws: 24K gold plated stainless

Thanks for looking, Bruce
 
Stunning.

Coop, your talents certainly were up to the the tasks of putting that wondrous work by Bruce in a photo. Jere Davidson also did some great work to complement Bruce's work.
 
That is absolutely incredible.

The planning, design, and execution of this piece could have only come from a true master.

Just incredible.

Thanks, Coop, for sharing those wonderful pictures, and thanks also to both you and Bruce for sharing your comments.
 
I've had the chance to meet Bruce at several area shows over the past few years, and he's always had something unique at his table. I've seen a couple of his combo pieces and every one was incredible to behold... And now, I think he's outdone himself!

Any chance this'll will come with you to vist during the Puyallup Show in October? That would be way too cool! :D
 
Coop- your great unequaled pictures show a piece of work I can't even find words to describe! Bruce, I hope to shake your hand someday. Mastersmith stamp Looks perfect next to your name,Bruce! After seeing your work, I can't imagine where a fellow could go from there.
 
How'd I miss this??:confused:

I UNFREEKINGBELIEVEABLE !!!!!!!!:eek:

That's the only word that comes to mind. :)

We need a bowing smilie!!!
 
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