My first try at photo posting here:
A vintage, probably 1910 German gold inlay on a trigger guard looking as if it was worn down with what looks to be cross-hatched gold wires.
I've seen gold inlays done with wires going one direction, but never two directions.
Do you think this was the method of inlay?
Thanks,
Steve Hughes

Steven Hughes
7/7/2008 7:31:02 PM

My guess it is was a sheet gold inlay. The background was probably cut away, in the pattern now visible, to hold it in place. With the background cut out the sheet would have been placed over the rough background and hammered down. Obviously, the gold held - it just wore away. The sheet must have been quite thin to wear through as it has.
I have done all my inlay with wire and someone who has done the type of inly pictured may offer more information as to how it was done.
Bill Gamradt

William Gamradt
7/7/2008 8:09:19 PM

Steven -

Here is a tutorial, showing how the gold may have been applied on this gun. Looks like it was sheet gold, hammered into a cross-cut bur field cut as shown in the tutorial.

http://www.igraver.com/gold_overlay/

William Brockway
7/8/2008 11:15:02 AM

Let me try this one more time:

www.igraver.com/gold_overlay/

Bill Brockway

William Brockway
7/8/2008 11:36:38 AM

Thanks Bill & Bill,
Between the explanation and the link, we can be pretty sure how it was accomplished and why it looks that way today.
Best,
Steve

Steven Hughes
7/8/2008 5:25:23 PM