A question that both new and “seasoned” engravers always seem to have is there a “list” of firearms that you should avoid. This can include those that are made out of something a graver can’t touch, strange alloys, proprietary finishes that are hard to remove and the list goes on.
In the How-To book there was a few firearms listed but I would like to see some input on this as sometimes the only way to find out is by mistake. Perhaps we could get a list going here from other engravers.
Now, I’m sure there will be some disagreement on a few but that’s OK. I know what some engravers consider “hard metal” others just consider “tough”.
I’ll start with a few off the top of my head to get things going.

Ruger Red Label O/U stainless. HARD I have done some that weren’t too bad and some downright nasty. It seems the last few were the worst. Yes, some say they all can be cut but I’m getting old and cranky enough to avoid them now. By the way, the old “blued” version didn’t cut too bad.

Henry Repeating Arms “Yellow Boy”.. Strange Finish. I’ve had several engravers ask me about these because they are inexpensive and just kind of “cute”. The problem is what looks like a nice brass receiver is actually some sort of alloy (I assume aluminum) that is then “clear coated” with a yellow tinted urethane.

Browning A-Bolt trigger guard/floorplate. Proprietary Finish. From what I can tell, these are an alloy floorplate that is then “steel plated” and either blued or black chromed. You can put a magnet on them but don’t try to file off the “rolled engraving”. You get a huge mess. Don’t ask me how I know…

These are some more “modern” models that can cause a fit but there is a whole lot of others that can be a pain as well. Hopefully this will get things started.

Lets see some input!!



Rex Pedersen
3/1/2006 4:45:29 PM

Hello Rex, Have you tried to engrave the new ruger # 1, stainless? Just wondering if it is as glass hard as the stainless Red Label that I once tried to engrave.

Ed DeLorge

Edward DeLorge
3/1/2006 6:18:33 PM

Ed,
I haven't but my guess is that they are the same. I would think they run them in the same casting plant. Even the blued #1 is no picnic to engrave. They aren't terrible but they can be tough. Also I've found hard spots in them. My uneducated guess is that there can be inclusions in the casting that are welded before they surface grind them. You end up with a nasty hard spot.

Rex Pedersen
3/1/2006 6:31:18 PM

I engraved one of the new brass frame Henry rifles. It was the large one (there is also a smaller .22) in .45. I believe this model is called the 'Big Boy". It was solid brass and cut very nicely. This is not to be confused with the Uberti replica of the original Henry, those are great!
Later on I was approached by another client who had one of the .22's in what looked like blue steel. Unfortunately it had an alloy frame so, I declined engraving on the receiver. Since he needed it for a retirement presentation and had little time, I ended up doing a stock inlay for him instead.

Weldon Lister
3/1/2006 8:46:00 PM

Hello Rex, I have engraved a bunch of blued Ruger #1's and found them all to be pleasant to engrave. Infact, I am doing one right now that I am just finishing that is total coverage all in relief that has been a dream.

I still would like to know if there is any one out there who has actually tried to engrave a stainless ruger #1?

I did call the Ruger custom shop and asked them the same question and they said they have not yet attempted the task. But, they said if they were to attempt a stainless # 1, they would have it anealed first then re-hardened. Which is some thing I am not willing to do.

Edward DeLorge
3/1/2006 10:45:54 PM

Ed,
You have been lucky...
Most are pretty decent but some can be a pain. The ones I've done vary a lot.
If you go to Ruger web site, they state they aneal all of the guns before engraving. And no.. they won't do it for outside engravers. Just in house on new guns.
I would like to hear from someone that has engraved a SS#1 as well.

Weldon,
Thanks for the tip. Glad to hear the Big Boy is made different.

Rex Pedersen
3/1/2006 11:36:43 PM

Rex.

It was great to meet you at the Reno show this year! Those of us new to the art should make it a lifetime effort to attend!!

I believe your effort to gather information about difficult weapons will be a public service to the craft. A secondary question for discussion might be, "Are there manufactures which will provide unhardened products for engraving which can then be returned to the factory for hardening (and possibly finishing).

And a question much less important, is the, "How-To book," you mention the book that I expected to get when I joined the FEGA a couple of years ago? I wonder if it will ever be available?


Lester Holmes
3/2/2006 1:18:10 AM

Lester,
I don't know of any manufacturer that will do anything like that because of liability. They have no control of the product once it leaves the factory.
As for the How-To Handbook.....
Yes, it will be available. I'm sorry for the huge delay in this but the delay was out of our hands for a couple of years. We will be getting the book back as soon as we can now. I'm afraid it won't be next week but we will have new people working on it to speed things up.

Rex Pedersen
3/2/2006 9:47:38 AM

We often get asked about what not to engrave.
We also get asked about inexpensive guns that will engrave.
A friend sent me a little O&U Derringer to put alittle somthing on for him. It is made by Bond Inc.
just looking at it , I was afraid it woud be too hard because it was obviously cast stainless steel. I took the grips off and made a cut in a concealed place. It tested and cut just fine.
ot a real high class piece, but it is engravable

John Barraclough
3/3/2006 7:04:53 PM

Does anyone have an opinion about the engravability (is that a word???) of a beretta model 92?

K. David Gruber
3/4/2006 7:38:40 AM

I just finished egraving and gold inlaying a Beretta 1934, 9mm short. I started on the frame and everything went well. I moved on to the slide and found it entirely hardened. It took me three times longer to complete and nothing would touch it other than carbide tools. If I had known, I would have not done any inlay work.
I added it to my Handbook list...

Stu Millar
5/7/2006 8:47:16 PM

Thank-You very much for that info

K. David Gruber
5/8/2006 8:00:41 AM

I'm working on a Colt Officers Model 45ACP in stainless steel. Just doing some work on the slide and it's actually cutting pretty nice. This is the second one I have done over the years and have had no problems with this model in stainless
Marty

Martin Rabeno
5/11/2006 7:57:00 AM