Gun Engraving

Finally somebody has written a good, well-illustrated book on fine English and European gun engravers-and that person is the gun authority Chris Austyn, head of Christie's gun sales in New York and London. And what a feast for the eyes this book is. In modern times the art of the sporting-gun engraver has become more and more important, especially since British gunmakers concentrate on producing a small number of beautifully crafted shotguns and rifles. This book is filled with fascinating archival material on old-time "engraving greats" like Harry Kell and Jack Summer, as well as modern artists like Ken Hunt, Geoffrey Casbard, and Malcolm Appleby. Also included is a pictorial section that lists types of engravings and prices. Austyn's previous books, Modern Sporting Guns and Classic Sporting Rifles, have been highly successful worldwide.