Geoffroy Gournet is a European-trained master engraver. He was born in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
and moved the United States in 1985. In 1987 he became the official and sole
engraver at
Parker Reproductions, engraving the A1 Special.
Training
Geoffroy Gournet began his training in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. He attended the
Belgian School of Gunsmithing in
Liège, where he was awarded The First Prize of Basculage (
Gunsmithing
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds guns. The occupation differs from an armorer, who usually replaces only worn parts in standard firearms. Gunsmiths do modifications and changes to a firearm that may require a very ...
) for his work. He learned the techniques of gunsmithing under the guidance of Ernest Dumoulin. He also earned the First prize at Liège's School of Engraving.
From Belgium he continued his training in Gardone Val Trompia where he spent time in different workshops with such masters as Ceasare Giovanelli and Gianfranco Pedersoli. During his stay in Italy he met the Master
Julio Timpini, from
Beretta
Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta (; "Pietro Beretta Weapon Factory") is a privately held Italian firearms manufacturing company operating in several countries. Its firearms are used worldwide for a variety of civilian, law enforcement, and milita ...
,
Giacomo Fausti and
Giovanni Steduto both now of Creative Art. Geoffroy Gournet was so eager to master all the techniques of
bulino that he spent 7 days a week practicing. Phil Coggan and Gary Merle were also students there at the same time as Geoffroy.
Career
Once Geoffroy Gournet had mastered engraving he moved to Virginia to be an artist-in-residence. In 1987, Geoffroy met Tom Skeuse Sr. the father of “Parker Reproduction”. Geoffroy became the sole and full-time engraver at Parker Reproduction. He worked exclusively on the A1 Special shotguns creating one of a kind masterpieces. He embellished the A1 Special shotguns with everything from English scrolls to gold inlay to theater masks to farms scenes to wonderfully detailed hunting scenes. He worked for the New Jersey based company from 1987 until 2002.
Since 2002, he has dedicated himself entirely to private customers; engraving shotguns, knives, jewelry, and other engravables. He lives in Easton, PA, an hour and a half from New York City, roughly 65 miles.
[McGonigle, John, “Lock, Stocks & Barrels,” PA Game News, June 2005.]
References
External links
Geoffroy Gournet's WebsiteAn Article About French Artisans In America
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gournet, Geoffroy
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
American engravers
French engravers