This engraved Cabot S100 (1911) is inspired by the classic song “When the Levee Breaks,” penned by Memphis Minnie and Kansas City Joe McCoy after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, later popularized by Led Zeppelin and other artists’ renditions. The lyrics of the song reflect the trials of that time, the many deaths and massive displacement of residents of the Mississippi Delta. The unstoppable force of the rain, mother nature, combined with bureaucratic injustices, left the people affected feeling exactly what the lyrics convey, “Crying Won’t Help You and Praying Won’t Do No Good”, the flood is coming and the levee will break.
The emotional charge of the song and underlying context of the situation provided the inspiration to design a engraving based around the event and lyrics. It is actually the theme that first inspired me to learn the art of engraving as I wanted to create an art piece in steel from this inspiration. The presentation of a deadly threat, combined with the right to bear arms, to defend oneself, puts one in a similar predicament, in which, the threat has presented itself, and Crying Won’t Help, and Praying Won’t Do No Good. One’s only unfortunate option is to meet the threat head on. At first glance one might mis-interpret the saying as being projected outward, offensively, but it is indeed the other way around, a defensive sentiment. Which is why the empty balance is tipped and the flood waters are rushing rearward towards the defendee, that has been placed in a situation, where their 2nd amendment right may be called upon to save their life.
This is an art piece, intended as most art is, to spur thought and interpretation but it is specifically for anyone, soldiers, police, and citizens, who has ever or will ever be faced with that grave situation, where only action and defensive methods will help them. The highly detailed bulino engraved ravens, long known as an ominous symbol of desperation and dark omens, sit on top of the slide in the blued iron and gold outlined cartouche, filled with a flooded street, downed power lines and trees in the aftermath of the flood event. As Louisiana was the state most greatly affected by the 1927 flood, the state flower, magnolias, are inlaid in fine silver and scattered throughout the design to represent hope, life and regrowth.
The idea for this engraving came about well over a decade ago, but the right opportunity came with this 1911 canvas, and the developement of skill and the learned techniques of difficult material inlay (Iron) and knowledge of selective finish removal. The deep lustrous finish of Charcoal Blueing has long been my favorite finish, but with a stainless gun, the finish would be bronze via that method, which just happened to be perfect for conveying muddy flood waters. The only way to achieve the charcoal blue accents is to blue carbon steel or iron into the stainless. Alas, the difficult task of ornamental iron inlay was the only option and so the process began. Combined with careful design aspects, strategically placed barrier cuts and other inlays of gold and silver ornament, the design came together. The entire gun was inlaid and hand engraved, then sent to Turnbull Restorations for finishing. Once back in my shop, the entire gun was bronze, with the iron inlays being blued. The delicate process of selective removal of the bronzing began. In areas intended to show the raw stainless finish, the bronzing had to be removed, which was done under the microscope using sharpened bamboo and various molarities of two different acid formulas. One wrong move, or too much acid on the bamboo, and the whole process has to start again. Luckily, patience, slow control movements, skill and a bit of luck prevailed.
I worked on this piece solid for nearly three months in order to submit it, alongside 2 other pistols, for my Master Engraver certification from the Firearms Engravers Guild of America. The hard work and years of study paid off and it earned me my Masters title, along with receiving the 2020 award for Best Engraved Handgun.
Thank you for taking the time to read about this piece and the interest in my work. I hope you have enjoyed the art and techniques along with the story behind them.
· Cabot Guns S100 .45ACP
· Designed and Engraved By Melissa McMinn Studios
· Iron, 24k Gold and Fine Silver Inlays, Multi-finish bulino scene
· Charcoal Blue and Carbona Bronze finish by Turnbull Restorations - freehand selective removal via acid by Melissa McMinn
· Custom Spacecake Redwood Burl Grips, dyed and stabilized -Shaped and Polished by Fickle Pelican Woodworks