Summer Project

[ToddsPoint]

A good friend has been after me for several years, wanting me to engrave his 38. He finally made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I stripped and polished it first. He purchased a pr of mammoth ivory grips.

The engraving will be all gold inlays. I started by inlaying all the lettering. Letters are undercut, then gold wire is pounded in. Then the excess is filed off.

I’m starting to come up with scroll designs. It’s 90% inspiration and 10% perspiration. This job will likely keep me busy all summer. I only work an hour or two a day so I don’t get burned out. It’s very tedious work. I’m 71 and this is my 43rd yr of engraving. This may very well be my last big job. I purchased 21” of gold wire to start. $177 worth. It will probably take twice that before I’m finished.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[SD51]

Beautiful work and it is Special!!

 

[Blackfoot58]

Should be a beauty once completed

 

[Sandog]

Really nice. Does the gold just adhere to the microgrooves in the engravings after hammering it? no heat?

 

[Sandog]

As an engraver you might like this find I made in the Ft Pierce area. The dune cut was nearly 8' high, and for some reason I decided to run my detector along the face. Bingo! My find is the rusty, crusty one of course. The other one is in a display at the McLarty Treasure Museum in Sebastian. They stated that they added the wooden handles to theirs, on mine you can see the remains of the encrusted handle.

Here is a comparison of the two tips. Look like the same smithy made both.

 

[ArfieBoy]

Nice work.

 

[mountainplayer]

Wish I had that kind of skill! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

On a side note, I found the same make/model pistol in the woods about 2 months ago. Waiting to see what/if the sheriff's dept finds out anything about it. It was extremely rusted...I figure it's been outdoors for 15 years or more.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Really nice. Does the gold just adhere to the microgrooves in the engravings after hammering it? no heat?

The lettering is undercut slightly. Picture a punch that looks like a tiny screwdriver. It is sharp but has a slight bevel cut in the back. When you strike it, it goes into the steel and the bevel makes it jump forward. This raises the edge of the steel. After you put the gold in, it stays because the groove is wider at the bottom. Gold is malleable so forms to the shape of the groove. The raised steel edge is tapped back down and that holds it in better. I’ve never had any of my inlays come out.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’m sitting around in my comfortable chair drawing different designs. The white powder is inert magnesium carbonate. Draw one, wipe it, draw another. I’m getting closer. Eventually I’ll draw one I like and I’ll cut it into the steel. Sometimes it takes longer to come up with a good design than it does to cut it.

 

[ToddsPoint]

This is the final design. I’ll scribe the pencil lines with a carbide point next and wipe off the white powder. Then I can start cutting.

 

[BennyV]

This is the final design. I’ll scribe the pencil lines with a carbide point next and wipe off the white powder. Then I can start cutting.View attachment 2202367

Beautiful work. My grandfather was a master engraver of printing plates. I’ll find some plates he made and post them. First day covers, invitations for presidential dinners & events, etc.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I scribed the lines and cut the first flat. Before I start inlaying I’ll make an impression of the design so I can transfer it to the other 4 flats. That will save time without having to draw each flat separately.

 

[BennyV]

I scribed the lines and cut the first flat. Before I start inlaying I’ll make an impression of the design so I can transfer it to the other 4 flats. That will save time without having to draw each flat separately.View attachment 2202380View attachment 2202381

Beautiful. You’re very gifted.

 

[Limitool]

Guy that's quite the talent sir... and I bet it does take a long time...!