Engraving your rifle

[Liver eatin’ Johnson]

How many here do your own engraving and how did you start out? :hmm:

 

How many here do your own engraving

I do. Pretty much my favorite part of rifle building.

and how did you start out? :hmm:

Very poorly.

Cody

 

[rich pierce]

I took an evening course from Greg Dixon around 1982 or 1984. He was teaching push graving and now I chase (use a hammer)but tool design and sharpening and basic cuts are all the same. He had us practice making straight and curved cuts over and over and over. he taught us how to break down lettering into basic parts that are pretty standard and mastering a few "moves" will suffice for making any letter.

I still practice 4 nights before touching a real gun part, because I may go a year between engraving jobs. Magnification and good light and good tools, sharpening, are all needed. Or young eyes, I suppose. Videos are helpful. I picked up 2, Wallace Gusler's and one by Lyton McKenzie. Good tips in both. Wallace's was very helpful but not as technical. I learned to relax a little watching Wallace engrave and relaxing really helps. Daeth grips on the tool and chasing hammer are not helpful!

I can successfully scratch my name in a barrel and engrave patchbox, etc in a fashion that is equivalent to some original longrifles. That is to say, extremely simple and not that good, but it fits OK.

Get some sheet metal scraps and practice drawing and engraving a lot before tackling the real thing. Less is more until you're good.

 

[rabbit03]

Hello Rich

Do you know if I can find the engraving videos in TOTW or Dixie or any of the other catalogs? If not maybe you can point me in the right direction. I have wanted to start doing some engraving in the future and would appreciate any info, thanks (and thanks for the post too)

rabbit03

 

[Mike Brooks]

I do a little.

I was first taught by the late lynton McKinzie, but most of that went over my head except how to sharpen tools. Bruce LePage kind of got me going in the right direction finally.

 

[rabbit03]

Wow Mike your making my gums sweat! I sure would like to do some of that in the future too

rabbit03

 

[davy]

Hello Rich

Do you know if I can find the engraving videos in TOTW or Dixie or any of the other catalogs? If not maybe you can point me in the right direction. I have wanted to start doing some engraving in the future and would appreciate any info, thanks (and thanks for the post too)

rabbit03

Rabbit let me introduce you to a website that I have been using for a while now ... you can rent many, many a fine how-to dvd or video including Engraving, gunbuilding, etc!

I have rented from this guy for almost a year now and can recommend him and his service to all you guys. I hope you will check it out. Tell him David W. sent you! ::

http://technicalvideorental.com/rental_74.html

Davy

 

[WRussell]

Do you know if I can find the engraving videos in TOTW or Dixie or any of the other catalogs?

Brownell's has the McKenzie videos, and now they're available on DVD.

http://www.brownells.com/

 

[WRussell]

IF you can afford it, this guy's tools are hard to beat:

http://www.lindsayengraving.com/

 

[davy]

Do you know if I can find the engraving videos in TOTW or Dixie or any of the other catalogs?

Brownell's has the McKenzie videos, and now they're available on DVD.

http://www.brownells.com/

The Mckenzie engraving dvds are here for "rental" as well! A whole lot cheaper too!

http://technicalvideorental.com/rental_74.html

Davy

 

[WRussell]

Bonanza, Davy!

Thank you Claude for making this all happen!

 

[C_Laubach]

Yep, whenever the customer wants it.
Learned from my father and Wallace G.

This one has gold leaf inside the graver cuts. This was my first attempt at add the gold leaf.

 

[davy]

Nice work Chris! ::

Davy

 

Great work guys

Mike, what did you use to cut that flat top english checkering?

Chris, what finish did you use on that stock?.


Cody

 

[rabbit03]

Hey Davy

I am with Russel BONANZA! I checked out the site and wow can't believe all there is there, thanks alot.

rabbit03

 

[C_Laubach]

Thanks Davy

Cody, I used Pilkington

 

:shocking: :shocking: Huh?????...only 4 people on this forum engrave????? That can't be right

 

[flashpanner]

hey I got sucked in too! I am looking for info on engraving. I got an interlibrary book "The Art of Engraving" by Meeks Good book! Can't wait to start practicing and getting to do my rifle project.

 

I want to, just haven't started yet. I figure I need to figure out the building of the gun part first. :redthumb:

I do have Art of Engraving, and I want to get a couple of videos on it. I'll get there... it'll just be a bit.

 

[WRussell]

I've done a little, have several small jobs coming up which I want to lump together (after some practice) so I don't get rusty again in between.