"Bear Cub"- Modified Bear Paw (First of its Kind)

*"You should be a monster, an absolute monster. And then, you should learn how to control it." This quote resonates so deeply within me, and I know that it's something that each of us can relate to. No matter the person, that "monster" lives inside us. It has come out when we needed it in a bad situation; and I'm sure that I don't speak for myself when I say, the monster has come out when we wished it hadn't...

  "Be the Monster they need", is a direct reminder that the monster has its place. It should only be allowed out when it comes to looking after those that we have been blessed to care for. 

  This piece is a modified version of my "Bear Paw". The original Bear Paw is considered a Full Fist, with four finger stalls. It has become a favorite among my customers for the way it seats itself within the palm, making way for an extremely comfortable grasp.

  If you've been with me for any amount of time, you probably know that I am not a fan of three finger pieces. Most that I've seen are just made without a ton of thought behind them. While they look cool, I feel that their practicality in being a tool just isn't there. And, up until now, I have only made one other three finger piece- a modified "Tree of Life" (Lincoln style), which I can say was more for looks than use...

  100% handmade from 1/2" thick solid brass. It has been drawn out on flat stock, etched, and freehand cut. The finger stalls are based around an industry standard 1" diameter, but then completely hand filed to an elliptical shape. The stalls have a beautiful contouring that ensure your fingers take a natural seating. By widening the floors of the stalls and "gullying out" the partitions, it allows the fingers to "spread" themselves in a proper anatomical positioning when grasping tightly (make a tight fist and watch how the flesh widens). The crowns of this Bear Cub have been hand filed with a tapered round, contouring the indentations from face to face. 

  Being that this is a three finger rendition of my Bear Paw, it leaves a fourth finger unemployed. By creating a half-moon under one side, the shape allows the user to employ this in two ways: over the first three fingers (with the pinky under the half-moon), or over the last three fingers (with the index finger under the half-moon). Making this useable in various grasps helps ensures that the piece remains as dynamic as a situation can be.

  The front side of this piece has been deeply engraved with the Werewolf head from my "Monster Within" artwork (able to be seen on both Instagram & in the No Luck Club [FB group]) with the inscription, "Be the Monster they need". The opposing side features the quote, "Sometimes the only way to protect the people you love from the monsters out there, is to become a bit of a Monster yourself". The 2026 year marking (upside down horseshoe with clover) is on the bottom of the palm brace.

  I have "melted in" the fingers stalls to a buttery smooth feel. Faces have been ground flat, and the outer borders/edges have been conditioned to a soft aesthetic. After giving this a special wash, it was blackened, and then hand rubbed to a distressed/antiqued look. This Bear Cub was allowed to set in the South Florida humidity before applying Odie's Oil to help preserve the finish.

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• 1st of its kind by me
• 100% handmade from start to finish (excluding engravings)
• 1/2" Solid brass
• Special/Limited markings
• Able to be employed in various grasps
• Hand finished