Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Good morning, All~
I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holidays - and are now back at it, either afield or in the shop.
I wrapped up a few decoy projects and just hauled another vessel into the shop.
These Bean Whistlers are ready-to-hunt. I will wrap up my separate post on these birds later.
View attachment DD Whistlers - Five on hay - closer.JPG
This Herter's Model Superior Bluebill Hen was in the same bag.
View attachment Herters Superior Hen - oblique.JPG
These birds all arrived with Dave Diefenderfer shortly after Thanksgiving. This old LL Bean Mallard came along for the ride. I am fairly certain he was made by George Soule - perhaps in the 1950s?
View attachment 1 Preener 02.JPG
He had been seriously wounded along his starboard chine....reconstructive surgery was needed.
View attachment 2 Preener 11.JPG
The non-original (too narrow and un-painted) keel and the athwartships groove suggest to me that he was returned to service after life as a lamp.
View attachment 3 Preener 09.JPG
The lamp cord groove was teamed with a hole bored straight down through his back.
View attachment 4 Preener 08.JPG
My vision for this bird was not to gun over him - but to respect his antique status and return him to a condition comparable to what he might have been had he never been pressed into the (ignoble) Illumination Service.
View attachment 5 Soule 01 port profile.JPG
He came to me as an "in-use re-paint" - so I did not try to make him appear as if he had his original George Soule finery.
View attachment 6 Soule 03 Head closeup.JPG
He now has a keel much like his original would have been - and no grooves or holes from his life-as-a-lamp.
View attachment 7 Soule 05 Bottom.JPG
He will live his days on a shelf - but could certainly hunt again if he so desires....
View attachment 8 Soule 08 - Outside portside.JPG
All the best,
SJS
I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holidays - and are now back at it, either afield or in the shop.
I wrapped up a few decoy projects and just hauled another vessel into the shop.
These Bean Whistlers are ready-to-hunt. I will wrap up my separate post on these birds later.
View attachment DD Whistlers - Five on hay - closer.JPG
This Herter's Model Superior Bluebill Hen was in the same bag.
View attachment Herters Superior Hen - oblique.JPG
These birds all arrived with Dave Diefenderfer shortly after Thanksgiving. This old LL Bean Mallard came along for the ride. I am fairly certain he was made by George Soule - perhaps in the 1950s?
View attachment 1 Preener 02.JPG
He had been seriously wounded along his starboard chine....reconstructive surgery was needed.
View attachment 2 Preener 11.JPG
The non-original (too narrow and un-painted) keel and the athwartships groove suggest to me that he was returned to service after life as a lamp.
View attachment 3 Preener 09.JPG
The lamp cord groove was teamed with a hole bored straight down through his back.
View attachment 4 Preener 08.JPG
My vision for this bird was not to gun over him - but to respect his antique status and return him to a condition comparable to what he might have been had he never been pressed into the (ignoble) Illumination Service.
View attachment 5 Soule 01 port profile.JPG
He came to me as an "in-use re-paint" - so I did not try to make him appear as if he had his original George Soule finery.
View attachment 6 Soule 03 Head closeup.JPG
He now has a keel much like his original would have been - and no grooves or holes from his life-as-a-lamp.
View attachment 7 Soule 05 Bottom.JPG
He will live his days on a shelf - but could certainly hunt again if he so desires....
View attachment 8 Soule 08 - Outside portside.JPG
All the best,
SJS