Die stamping vs engraving

[Onojutta]

Does anyone die stamp the barrel (or anywhere else) with initials or name, as an alternative to engraving? Is that HC for any school?

 

[fleener]

I stamp the bottoms with name, year and number. But you cant see it unless you take the rifle apart.

Fleener

 

[hawkeye2]

Finding a set of stamps with the correct font would be quite a task. What time frame are you talking about? It was quite common by the percussion era. I'm holding a rifle by Asa Story, 1835-1843 that is marked in 2 lines on the top of the barrel A. STORY / WINDSOR VT. and was done with one stamp. I also have 3 smoothbores marked L. M. LELAND / AUGUSTA / ME in 3 lines and these also were done with 1 stamp. It was quite common for the lock makers to stamp their locks. The industrial revolution made quality stamps readily available and this would have been specially true in New England.

 

[EC121]

One thing to be aware of is deforming the bore with the stamp. Don Getz said he always stamped his barrels before rifling them to avoid possible deformation. Depending on the alloy it could take a pretty good lick with a hammer to stamp it. Just a heads up.

 

[Onojutta]

Finding a set of stamps with the correct font would be quite a task. What time frame are you talking about? It was quite common by the percussion era. I'm holding a rifle by Asa Story, 1835-1843 that is marked in 2 lines on the top of the barrel A. STORY / WINDSOR VT. and was done with one stamp. I also have 3 smoothbores marked L. M. LELAND / AUGUSTA / ME in 3 lines and these also were done with 1 stamp. It was quite common for the lock makers to stamp their locks. The industrial revolution made quality stamps readily available and this would have been specially true in New England.

This particular application would be second half of 18th century and Lancaster school. As for font, they aren't common, but I have managed to find a few "elegant" stamps on the internet...

 

[Onojutta]

One thing to be aware of is deforming the bore with the stamp. Don Getz said he always stamped his barrels before rifling them to avoid possible deformation. Depending on the alloy it could take a pretty good lick with a hammer to stamp it. Just a heads up.

Good point, and if not totally incorrect for my period I might be inclined to stamp the lock plate instead of barrel.

 

[BigBoreBLR]

Wait till you meet up with a decent engraver and have him do it.

Or, engrave the lockplate. You Mess up you buy a new one. Do it off the gun.

 

[Donny]

Someday.... I intend to make my own stamp. Anneal..Engrave and harden.

 

[davec2]

I built a hydraulic press to do several things including barrel or lock stamping.  This first picture is of the entire press.  It is a simple welded assembly of 2 inch square tubing.  A hydraulic jack, with a pressure gage that reads cylinder pressure, just sits on the bottom plate and pushed against the bottom of the lower, movable platten.  The lower platten has two shoulder bolts 180 degrees apart that ride in slots milled in the vertical members.  Inside the verticals, tension springs are attached to the shoulder bolts and to bolts running through the lower end of the vertical pillars.  These springs will lower the platten when the bypass valve on the jack is opened.  The upper platten is fixed to the upper horizontal frame members and has a 3/4 inch hole in the center.  The center hole will accomodate different tool holders and / or anvils.  I use the press to stamp, coin, bend tangs, bend barrels, punch out sheet, press powder, etc.  Very handy tool.

Stamps, tool holders, anvils, etc.

Close up of stamp in holder.

Stamp being used to mark a scrap piece of barrel.

In this particular case, 2000 psi is being applied to the press (this is the cylinder pressure but the cylinder has a cross sectional area of about 1.75 square inches which means that the applied force is about 3500 pounds.)

This is the resulting stamp impression.  Very even and very repeatable with the pressure gage.

Graphite EDM tool to make coining (makers mark) stamps.

Some of my makers mark stamps.

Result of quick and dirty test pressing (really coining) of 24K gold, 0.025 inch thick in a recess quickly cut by hand graver in barrel steel.  Pressed at 3200 psi hydraulic pressure - no distortion of the interior of the barrel (.45 cal, 13/ 16 across flats, no interior support)

 

[Onojutta]

davec very nice thanks for sharing. I take it you never had any problems deforming the barrel?

So my original question still remains... is stamping historically correct for "early" rifles?

 

[Pete G]

davec very nice thanks for sharing. I take it you never had any problems deforming the barrel?

So my original question still remains... is stamping historically correct for "early" rifles?

Define "Early"

I have seen quite a few stamped barrels on percussion pieces. I cannot recall having seen a stamp on a flintlock.

 

[davec2]

The press certainly has enough power to deform a barrel, but I do test whatever I intend to stamp and the pressure gage allows the process to be repeatable so I don't damage anything. Marking with a hammer was always a sketchy proposition. With the press, it is easy and reliable.

 

[Obi-Wan Cannoli]

On pages 42-43 of that book we both own, The Lancaster Long Rifle, you will find a Jacob Ferree ca 1790 with his name stamped on the brass sideplate. One stamp for his first name and one stamp for his last.

 

[Onojutta]

On pages 42-43 of that book we both own, The Lancaster Long Rifle, you will find a Jacob Ferree ca 1790 with his name stamped on the brass sideplate. One stamp for his first name and one stamp for his last.

Thanks, I'll check it out. For now I did the easy thing: nothing. I engraved my name on the bottom of the barrel with a Dremel. That's for my grandkids to find in 50 years. Actually doesn't look too bad but not even close to being displayable on the top of the barrel.

 

[Gustavo Hoefs]

http://microstamp.us/

 

[crockett]

Little Buffalo- I am thinking of the Sheffield Cutlery trade and stamp marks on the blades of knives. Originally the stamps were an image, like crossed keys. I might be a little off on the exact date but I think around 1810 dies could be made with crisp lettering and blade stamps after that date began to have more lettering in them, usually a logo and a lettered name.
On the Barrels, anything I have seen appears to be engraved. I don't think you could therefore go wrong with engraved name on a barrel.