Thought I might share part of my latest project with all of you whose expertise and abilities I respect and admire very much. It has been almost two years since my beginner GRS course with Lee. The knowledge I gained in that class was a treasure chest but nothing, of course, can substitute for lots of practice and reading.
These grips are elephant ivory with silver inlays made from Morgan silver dollars and are part of a West Virginia theme Colt 1911. The slide will have almost full coverage and have some of W.Virginia's wonders inlayed in gold.
Living litterally in the middle of West Virginia, I have not found anyone nearby that can look at my work and offer advice or just plain "pick it apart". I have always known that this forum has been an option but certainly not for my old practice plates (he he he). Since there's only me, my tools and my books here - no one that I know of to ask on a professional level, I do not know what I would even charge for these. From design to completion there is almost a months time invested in these grips. When the commission/project is complete, it will probably work out to about $2 per hour (I'm just kidding I think more like $5)
Anyway, any ideas, comments or suggestions are gratefully welcome. Chris

P.S. Any tips on taking a better photo are welcome too, I can then post a better picture.

Christopher Malouf
5/13/2006 10:23:38 PM

Chris, I think everything looks pretty good from what I see, but I've also learned that Internet pictures don't always give the most flattering views of engraved work. Things have always looked much better when I could actually see the article.
I live in Eastern Ohio....about 15 miles west of Weirton, WV and about 40 miles NW of Wheeling, WV.
I'll be more than glad to help.
Brian Powley

Brian Powley
5/14/2006 10:36:04 PM

Like Brian, what I can see looks nicely done. I have taken many photos over the years and have found the easiest way is to shoot right at my work bench. I have a 4 foot long 3 bulb florescent light about 2 1/2 feet above my vise and slightly behind it. When you look at engraving under a light you move it around until the engraving pops out at you. This is the way you set up your shot with the camera located where your eyes were. You can diffuse the light by placing/holding some butcher paper between the light and your subject. I cut the bottom of 2 coat hangers and bent them out straight then taped the paper to them and just hang below the light fixture. A digital camera is really good here because it has white balance control. I usually place a cloth or some other material behind the part I'm photographing just to make a nicer picture. The item is usually clamped in my vise but sometimes I remove the vise and just lay the item on the bench. The photo of the shifter knob in the thread below this was taken this way. Any questions just add to this thread. Regards.

Sam Welch
5/15/2006 9:21:25 AM

OK! I've uploaded a much better photo. Sam, thank-you for the idea. I never thought about using a soft-light setup - I actually had some of that packing tissue paper and that worked pretty well. Less reflection and more detail.

Brian, that puts us about 3 hours or so drive apart. I've found your website and everything on it is excellent. Thank-you again and I'll certainly be in touch with some questions.

Chris

Christopher Malouf
5/15/2006 12:37:48 PM

Hi Sam,

Had to mention that the shifter is simply perfect; the engraving, the concept and the photography! A dragoon for a shifter is just perfect. I'll be rebuilding my Harley next winter with a civil war/confederate theme - I was going to use a Confederate cavalry saber for a jocky shift but I just might have to "borrow" your idea...with your permission of course!

Christopher Malouf
5/15/2006 5:31:22 PM

Christopher, I would like to claim that as an original idea but I am sure it has been done before, one way or another. Never have I seen the trigger used as the horn button tho. This is an 1849 Colt Pocket Pistol (Italian kit Dixie gun works use to sell many years ago) so is smaller than a dragoon but with the same great looks. The Harley sounds great. And that will be a very interesting theme. Good luck! By the way, the new photos you posted are better but you still don't have the right camera angle to get the engraving to show. The right 1/4th of the trout is about right. The long florescent bulbs help on the curved surfaces but still I have trouble with most floorplates. S

Sam Welch
5/15/2006 6:19:20 PM

hi chris .. now that is better now we can see the detail in your work and i must say it looks good . if you are in the harrisburg pa. area give me a call and stop by i will tell and show you any thing you want .. ron p.

Ron Nott
5/16/2006 8:55:40 AM

Just wanted to say thank-you to Brian, Sam and Ron for the feedback and tips. With Brian and Ron only 3-4 hours away, I'm looking forward to talking further and getting up that way this summer. I'll be seeing the folks at GRS again in '07 for another class and if everything continues to go the way it's going, I'll get a chance to be in Reno. You know there's always doubt concerning success when undertaking the challenges of any new career but there is no question that this Guild, along with the folks at GRS, can help eliminate that doubt...Chris

Christopher Malouf
5/19/2006 2:15:23 PM

hi chris .. you are welcome . any time i can help out sombody with engraving is my pleasure i have no problem with showing you every thing i know . and if you can get away i will be in atlanta ga. on june 16,17.and 18. at the blade show and if that dont work i will be looking forward to meeting you in reno .. any questions just give me a call .. ron p.

Ron Nott
5/19/2006 10:05:04 PM

j.d. swartzfeger aka monk- washington, pa 35 min east of wheeling on i 70
724-228-2174 or monk45@verizon.net
love to swap lies too old to remember the truth !

j.d. swartzfeger
9/27/2006 1:10:51 AM

Chris, You ae making me look good. The line cut background for the fish looks very even from what I can see. That takes some real attention to detail and care. Very well done. As Sam said the 1/4 of the fish that has the right lighting to show the detail is displaying a very nice fish. If you can get together with Ron or Brian you will enjoy it. Both have a wealth of knowledge and are wonderful people. Just ignore anything they say about me or at least give 5 minutes rebuttal time in Reno.

Lee Griffiths
9/27/2006 10:36:18 AM

Hi Lee, great to hear from you and thanks for the great feedback. Haven't logged in to the forum for awhile since I just moved up to Ripley, WV. Been very busy with the rest of this project - mainly the slide which has about 85% scroll coverage (finally completed) and will include 4 raised gold inlays of some of West Virginia's wonders. It's traditional scrollwork and a straightforward layout but as a whole, with the grips, I think it will be a nicely coordinated and executed effort considering my skill level. I look forward to sharing the pics with everyone once the inlays and bluing is completed. Once it's done, I'll be able to get out of the house and make some visits. At any rate - I am ready for your design & layout class!!!

Christopher Malouf
10/31/2006 12:53:40 AM