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The engraving.

Sometimes I wonder why people engrave their rifles at all. No engraving is far preferable to bad engraving. Minimal engraving is far preferable to bad engraving.

The animal engravings actually remind me of another sometime mush praised gun maker, not mentioned a lot on NE though, and the cartoonish animals engraved on his firearms and displayed on the internet in the past.

I think some scroll work looks fine. I would not want to carry a rifle or own a rifle with such "pictures". Give me plain sideplates any day in preference if not done properly.

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Putting aside the whole question of M. Bouchet's artwork for the moment, I have to say I agree with you on the subject of engraving firearms. I do appreciate the artistic skill that goes into fine engraving (on anything, let alone the convoluted surfaces of a firearm), but I too, very much prefer the clean lines of unadorned steel. Even if I ever became disgustingly wealthy enough to afford custom rifles made to my every whim (Are you listening, Universe? Still waiting...), I would forego the scrollwork and the hunting scenes in favour of a first-rate, deep bluing job. I just find engraved rifles too "busy" for my personal taste. To each his own, I suppose. That's why they still make Fords.

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