I want to find someone local to do custom scroll engraving

[Skylow]

Good morning ODT, I need some advice! I know very little when it comes to custom engraving, and never had the urge to seek it out until now. I know their is hand and laser engraving, but I don't think I could pick out which is which if they were side by side, I don't know the differences in the two. I recently knocked a pistol off of the ole bucket list, and I've been waiting awhile on this one. A brand new, full sized, stainless Colt Government XSE 1911, sexy pistol right?
I've always wanted one ever since I was a kid, watching old WWII movies. I know their are millions of them out there, but it's not everyday I get to buy a thousand dollar pistol brand new, it's at the top of my pistol collection by far. That being said, I thought I might invest a little more into some custom scroll work to make it truly beautiful, and I really wanted to find someone close by Atlanta, or at least in GA that does awesome, affordable work, instead of sending it somewhere.
I like the dark, two tone the best by far, that thing really pops! I would get some custom pewter grips to match, kinda like those on the top, but without the man and horse. Of course cost would be a definite deciding factor, if it got super crazy expensive, I would be happy with a partial scroll, like the style in the second photo. So, can someone tell me the best type of engraving to get for a style like this, and why? Would anyone know of a shop like this, preferably in the metro area, but at least in GA, that you've seen do top notice work, and would recommend? Lastly, I know every project is different, but could someone take a guess at a ballpark estimate that I could expect for each style, and how long it would take, start to finish?
Thanks for any advice guys, having a pistol that looked that beautiful would defiantly make me feel like a real BOSS, and would be the pearl in my collection. I would probably be buried with it, lol.

 

[Skylow]

So I've been reading up on engraving, and answered a couple of my own questions. For the most part, hand engraving has it's own culture, rich with craftsmanship, history, tradition, and definitely gets peoples attention. And why wouldn't it, your talking about beautiful, handmade works of art, who would turn that down over something machine made right? But it gets crazy. Scroll work generally comes in 3 standard designs, American, English, and Nimschke, both those pictures are American style. Their is also three levels of craftsmanship, and gets expensive pretty darn fast. The grades are Standard-which is pretty much basic pattern. Expert-which is the more intricate scroll pattern, engraver signed and recorded. Master-Which is very elaborate scroll pattern and precious metal inlays, engraver signed and recorded. Jobs usually come in 1/4 sections of empty space, per firearm until full. Agree on the percentage of work to be done, then pick the thyme, scroll or design pattern, and how detailed you want it. Most engravers already know the number they want, then tell you some crazy number. I could be wrong, but from what I gathered, browsing around different sights today, the mid-range guys charge anywhere from 600-1,000$ per 25% of coverage. I'm not trying to be cheap ether, but that sounds a little pricey, even for decent, detailed work. Don't forget about Master engravers, and all they're custom inlay work, that's big money I'm sure. And on top of all that, I noticed that a lot of the well known engravers have a year+ wait time with back orders.

Supposedly a nice, unique piece from a well known Master Engraver will hold, and most likely increase in value indefinitely. Now I don't doubt that, all I'm saying is that for myself, and most of the people I know for that matter, aren't well off enough to drop 6K on a collectors piece like it's nothing, maybe if they offered financing, lol. So that puts custom hand engraving out of my league for the most part, I was thinking around 2K tops before I knew anything on the subject. Now laser engraving is a whole other story, fast and defiantly more affordable, it's a pretty solid alternative for hand engraving. Their are a few different types of laser engraving, all of which can be used very effective and precisely on a wide variety of material. Marking- which leaves marks on an object, which also includes color change due to chemical alteration in the material, and does little to no damage to the surface of the material. A very light mark, used best for bar codes, serial numbers, part and model numbers, etc.

Laser Etching- Which leaves a permanent mark no greater than .002 deep, and is used in a lot of custom gunsmith work. A lot people use this to mark manufacture's name, and serial numbers on aftermarket rifles and custom firearms, although it is mainly used for very intricate and detailed designs, logos, lettering, and scroll patterns on firearms, as well as a variety of other materials, such as personalized gifts, jewelry, and artwork.

Laser Engraving- which is pretty much the same as etching, the only difference is that it has to go more than .002 in depth, and is able to deep engrave to any depth within the material guidelines, etching can't go over .002 in depth, but can still do detailed designs. Laser engraving can put infinite depth and detail into any design, and is the most preferred method of laser engraving. I think it's pretty much the new standard for custom engraving, it's very precise, able to measure and cutout an intricate design exactly, within a micro centimeter. It's fast, efficient, cost effective, and is really the only affordable option for custom work on an "Average Joe" budget. Again, from what I gathered, and I could be wrong, detailed laser work runs 100-300$ per side and that's top end price.

Also I just want to say that I'm not hating on anyone, and I have mad respect for everyone in the profession. I would take hand etching or laser any day, after I hit the lottery, lol. And if your that good at something, that you can charge a premium price, and still have people lined up, waiting over a year for it? More power to you, your doing something right. I'm done now, having spread the good word of firearm engraving basics, I feel complete now. Although I could still use some good laser engraving businesses references that are local, or close by.

 

[Madrox]

I would like some info on the laser engraving as well. In.

 

[BamaBrad]

Subscribed, and thanks for the good information. I want my 1911 to be one of a kind and engraving will definitely be on the list.

 

[Gordon Freeman]

Nice amount of info. I didn't any of this.

 

[Lionheart]

I know a guy in Madison GA ....PM me and I'll get you his phone number. He has engraved for the Colt Custom Shop. He is working on some knives right now to be auctioned at the NRA annual meetings.

 

[Echo 1]

Might consider finding a jeweler that does engraving its just metal.

 

[Leatherhead]

Laser engraving looks cheap IMO. It is what it is though...no man hours involved means no real value added or retained.

I know of a good, unknown-ish hand engraver in W.VA if you decide you want to ship it. He quoted me $500 for full coverage on a K frame Smith.
40 years experience is what he told me he has.

 

[Tim W]

I'm kicking this back up to the top because I am a hand engraver and would like to shed some light on this subject.

If you want a gun to have scrollwork on it, the only way is by hand. laser or acid etched scroll looks like Fido's behind and is immediately distinguishable from hand cut work.

As for budget, that is what you can talk about with the engraver of your choice. My advice is look for the engraver who's style you like best and have that conversation. Hand engraving is not cheap and shouldn't be. It takes many years of close study of artwork and practice to be able to do good work, not just amateurish passable work. There are many sledge hammer mechanics in any auto shop in the country that charge $65.00 - $90.00 per hour which is more than most of us charge to create a person a one of a kind work of art that can be passed down. You can't do that with a rebuilt transmission...

When you inquire about a job, basically your budget will determine the amount of coverage, not the level of quality. Quality of workmanship is not something any of us want to diminish just to do a cheap job. I don't know any of us that are even interested in doing a "cheap" job. Sometimes it isn't all that expensive to do a job and have it be of a high caliber ( no pun intended) but there will likely just be less of it. If you compromise your quality, you ruin any good reputation you may ever otherwise achieve. I also know so called "Master Engravers" who do mediocre work or worse. One can't count on that Master title to be a guarantee of fine work.

This is why you need to look at examples of the person's work you intend to use. Things that determine price are hardness of metal; not all gun metals are created equal, some are harder than woodpecker lips, others are butter soft at least to a carbide chisel. Shape is also a factor. It is far easier to engrave a 1911 slide than a SAA revolver simply because of all the concave and convex surfaces on the single action. The 1911 slide is flat and easier to hold in the engraver's vise. There is also background treatment. Relieved background is more expensive than frosted background but one also looks better than the other to some.

Here are two photos of a relief engraved gun.

Hope this helps.

Tim W.
Dallas, GA

 

[sc951]

look up Jim Downing, thegunengraver.com He's in Springfield MO and has a great web sight. This is who I plan on sending a couple to.