My Engraving Friends,

I am seeking some advice on a couple of questions. First, I have been engraving for several years and I believe my skills are now marketable. Certainly not at the advanced level or master level but also quit presentable. I have engraved a couple of five gallon buckets of practice plates and I can say without false modestly, that my work is much improved. I have engraved a bunch of inexpensive knives, a couple of low priced H&R .22’s pistols. I have also done three North American Arms minis. Some of my knife and gun work I have given away, some I have sold. I believe that it is time to move up to better guns. I would like to try my hand at a 1911 auto The curves on the SSA pistols seems more than I should try-I have done some steel, copper and brass pipes. Also a few sockets(very difficult). I have looked at many of the lower end guns (will cut my own before someone else’s). Many seem to be of various light weight alloys. Additionally, the new ones have a great deal of stamping on them. I looked through the Brownell catalog and found several slide and frame combinations for the custom market. Some are advertised as highly prepared frame to slide fit some not. Prices range from a few hundred to about fifteen hundred. Even at the fifteen hundred dollar range it is much cheaper than the $2000 plus for a Colt or Smith. Even on the used market.. Do I purchase one of these slide frame set ups and which would you folks recommend? Should I go through a pistolsmith I find on the web and have them get the necessary pieces to allow me to build a finished gun when the engraving is done and be sure the assembling does not destroy the engraving, did I get all the parts that should be engraved etc.

My second question deals with displays for gun and knife shows as well as a couple of higher end gunshops that will allow me some display space. I thought I might do a few of the practice floor plates, revolver cylinders and grip caps available from GRS. I also found some of the same type of things in Brownell’s in more styles. It is not financially possible for me to provide guns and custom knives for displays. I know a lot of you put your speck work on display but then it sells and you have nothing for your table but pictures. The drawback would seem to be that your display might get dated, as the work improves a person would need to keep changing out the displays. Not every week or anything, but periodically. I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks Fred


Fred Marrinan
2/22/2006 11:20:52 PM

Fred,
I would suggest that look for completed pistols instead of making an assembled one. Get in good with your local gun shop and seek advice from them.
For display or "sample" work, I would suggest finding some rifle floorplates. You can buy them at gun shows for guns like Winchester and Mauser. The Remington ones are usually alloy.
You might also go to Brownells and engrave some style of grip cap.
Also, GRS sells engraver ready knives. The steel has been spec'ed out by them for easy engraving. They are also priced to make them affordable.
Doing just a "sample" item is fine but these other items can be sold and as you improve you can update your displays.
Also, don't forget about epoxy castings for samples. They make inexpensive "display" items.
Hope this helps.

Rex Pedersen
2/23/2006 8:20:55 AM

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ONE OF THE GUYS WHO TRAVELLED THE CIRCUIT. BUT, AT LEAST IN THE LIMITED AREA OF MY ENGRAVING PRACTICE;;
LOTS OF DIGITAL FOTOS LOADED ONTO CD DISKS TO HAND OUT ARE HELPFUL. ALSO FOR GUNS, SINCE I DON'T CATER TO THOSE WITH DEEP
POCKETS, I'VE FOUND IT QUITE NICE TO BUY A CHEAP GUN, CLEAN UP THE WOOD AND METAL, AND DO YOUR BEST ON THAT.
IF YOUR WORK IS VERY GOOD, THE GUYS WITH THE DEEPER POCKETS WILL SEE YOUR TALENT, AND SURELY FORGIVE YOUR CHOICE FOR A SAMPLE PIECE. AFTER ALL, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD ART. GREAT PAINTING CAN BE DONE ON A PIECE OF MASONITE! GOOD LUCK


J.D. SWARTZFEGER
3/10/2006 1:21:04 AM

Fred, Next time your at a local gun show, find the "gun parts" tables (the stuff looks like rusted junk to me) and pick up a few cylinders,slides or whatever. Dunk 'em in muratic acid to clean the crud off. Bead blast or shine them up. Do your best work and display them on your table. You'll have company all day long and for a fraction of the cost of a Colt SAA. Don't forget extra business cards............you'll run out.

Brian Powley
3/10/2006 8:13:12 AM

Here's something that helped me move from flat plates and gain confidence to take a real commission. I had some relatively cheap blackpowder guns from Dixie Gun Works. I transitioned from flat to round and curved surfaces on these without the panic of messing up someone's fine Colt or S&W. When finished, they made great gifts for my brothers and nephews. I never thot to sell them on consignment at the local gunshop. I gained enough confidence to move on to a stainless S&W Mod 36 for my first real commission job.



W. Millar
5/7/2006 8:19:33 PM