A client asked whether the Browning hi and lowall reproductions from the 1970-80's are engravable. Anyone out there with experience or opinion. (I can't believe I asked whether this forum would have an opinion)

Lee Griffiths
9/16/2005 9:24:03 AM

The photo is of a Meacham reproduction I engraved years ago. It was one of my earlier works and as I remember it was fine to work on. It did have one streak of what was rather hard metal.

Bill Gamradt
9/16/2005 10:17:59 AM

Lee,
I did a couple of the Hi Walls many years ago. They were fairly decent in the middle but there is an area near the stock that seems to be rock hard. A couple of other areas were a bit hard too. I think what happens is that they were hardened and all hte areas that are thin got much harder. I think they are also like many Ruger #1s and vary in hardness. I would consider sending it to a good gunsmith that could bring down the hardness and then re-harden it after.

Rex Pedersen
9/16/2005 4:33:25 PM