Hi Everyone.

Well, here’s the other side of the hammergun fence. This time it’s a Kea (Key-ah) which is a native alpine parrot. They stand about 12 inches high and are as cheeky and destructive as hell but quite beautiful. Many a skier has parked their car up in the mountains only to return later in the day with all the rubber stripped from their car. Their predominant colour is green.

It’s quite appropriate that the Sparrow hawk and Kea be on the fences of the gun. Until recent years (about the 50’s or 60’s) they were both considered pests as they worried sheep and especially the lambs. Therefore it was considered OK to shoot them. Trouble is the farmers damn near wiped them out so now they are a protected bird. Thank goodness. The Kea even had a gun named after it. It was called the Kea gun and was a small 410 cartridge pistol type shotgun that farmers carried around especially to shoot them.

As always, your comments on any ways to improve it for the future are always welcome.

Cheers
Andrew Biggs



Andrew Biggs
11/20/2006 4:48:17 AM

Andrew Biggs
11/20/2006 4:49:05 AM

Andrew Biggs
11/20/2006 4:49:43 AM

Very nice indeed, Andrew. That is quite the project. Look forward to a visit in Reno! S

Sam Welch
11/20/2006 7:39:18 AM

Andrew.........it looks like you are having too much fun engraving this gun.......................CUT IT OUT cya in Reno

Martin Rabeno
11/20/2006 9:41:28 AM

Thanks Sam and Marty.

Yip, I'm enjoying it all right. Should be finished before Xmas to bring to Reno. I can honestley say that I had no idea shotgun action had so many parts and sides to it.

Cheers
Andrew

Andrew Biggs
11/20/2006 8:28:00 PM

Hello Andrew,
It is good to see your piece progressing. I think its a very fine piece.
M A Smith

Mark Smith
11/22/2006 1:47:17 PM