Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 24
Left: Learning how to engrave letters helped Chuck with his restoration work. "It's graceful to me," he says. "If you can cut letters right, you know
how to cut everything else." Right: Designs adorning the bolster and lock of a knife reveal the minute details that go into Chuck's engravings.
by Zach Smith | zsmith@ruralmissouri.coop
engraving. Much of that work involves restoring scrollwork
on antique firearms, such as European long-range rifles
and fowling pieces, from the 18th and 19th centuries. Colhe arc of Chuck Edwards' life has always followed
lectors who buy such guns for restoration projects send
twin themes: history and art. A keen eye for detail
the parts that need engraving to Chuck. But cleaning these
led him to pursue western art as a portraitist. After
pieces during the restoration process sometimes renders
firing a friend's flintlock rifle for the first time, his
the original designs into nothing more than a few divots or
artistic inspiration changed with a flash and a bang.
even a clean slate.
"When I was at the easel doing paintings I'd think, 'Man,
That's when a smoke pull comes in handy. Using a
I'd rather be in the shop working on a gun.' And when I
candle to cover the surface of the gun in soot, a piece of
was in the shop working on guns, I'd think, 'Man, I need
tape is then applied to pull off a copy of the design underto be back in there on the easel,' " Chuck says. "So I had to
neath. Stuck to a piece of paper or film, the tape becomes
pick, and I picked muzzleloaders."
a photographic negative of the image that was originally
To say the painter-turned-gunsmith completely abanengraved. Chuck then uses the smoke pull as a guide
doned his artistic inspiration, however, wouldn't be true.
when he re-engraves the cleaned piece in a process called
Chuck traded painting for three new disciplines - black"chasing."
smithing, woodworking and engraving - and combines all
"We have machines now that do remarkable stuff," he
three to create one-of-a-kind pieces that are not only fully
says, motioning to a small air jack at the workbench, "but
functional, but highly collectable.
some of these actions and locks are fine mechanisms,
A lifelong woodsman and childhood fan of the
television exploits of Daniel Boone and Davy
like a well-machined clock. I have to use a microscope
to see it. I don't know how they did it with just the
Crockett, Chuck enjoyed the experience of finally shooting a flintlock. He wanted to buy his own
ambient light coming in through a window."
traditional muzzleloader to start hunting with, but,
Engraving for small pieces runs roughly $6 per
he says, "I found out really quick I couldn't afford
letter, with larger jobs - chasing the scrollwork
on an antique gun, for instance - running $60
them." Not to be deterred, the SEMO Electric CoopBloomfield
per hour. A Chuck Edwards original muzzleerative member studied what material he could find
loader starts around $3,000, and the price can
on the subject. He built one flintlock, sold it and
increase based on certain options including
used the funds to buy tools, parts and books. That
the type of wood used for the stock. Curly maple,
pattern continued, and soon he found he'd not only been
black walnut and highly prized English walnut are prebuilding guns but also a reputation for his work.
ferred for their stripe, burl and overall character. Most
"I told my wife, 'If I have a year's worth of work in front
customers purchase their own wood, barrel and lock and
of me, I'd quit building houses,' " Chuck says. "Turns out I
decide on what trigger pull and engraving they want before
had two years in front of me and I didn't know it."
setting Chuck to work. They also decide if they want an
He still finds new aspects of the process that spark
early - pre-1790s - or late gun and what "school," or
his curiosity 20 years later. In addition to building new
style of gun they ultimately want.
flintlocks, Chuck also made a name for himself through
T
24
RURAL MISSOURI | NOVEMBER 2020
Rural Missouri - November 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - November 2020
Contents
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - Cover1
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - Cover2
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - Contents
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 4
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 5
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 6
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 7
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 8
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 9
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 10
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 11
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 12
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 13
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 14
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 15
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 16
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 17
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 18
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 19
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 20
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 21
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 22
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 23
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 24
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 25
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 26
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 27
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 28
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 29
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 30
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 31
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 32
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 33
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 34
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 35
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 36
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 37
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 38
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 39
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 40
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 41
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 42
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 43
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 44
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 45
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 46
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 47
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 48
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 49
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 50
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 51
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 52
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 53
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - 54
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - Cover3
Rural Missouri - November 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/videotest
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ruralmissouri/201010
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com