This for my Low wall rim fire project.  Frame is in good shape smooth no pits.  If I don't go for engraving want Color Case. If I do get it engraved want a matt nickel or french grey appearance.   Blue is not under consideration except for the barrel.  Will leave the Hammer trigger and block with existing finish, look good with nice patina as is.  Lever will be color case.

Who does this sort of work and what are the pro's and con's All comments appreciated

Boats

Well, I do that sort of work.

Engraving really doesn’t show up well on CCH parts, unless they are gold inlayed. 

Instead of matt nickel think about an antique sliver wash, it really makes the engraving stand out. 

Price wise; Silver Wash or CCH probably about the same, engraving. Let your pocket book be the deciding factor.

And yes Doug Turnbull does a great job on CCH, don’t think I’ve ever seen a problem with his work,  (just so it doesn’t look like I’m here just to sell my services)


Mike Hunter
Hunter Restorations
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Mike agree CCH and engraving don't go well.  Both of my CPA's are Color case and never got any engraving, would have had to polish the case off and start all over again. Plus mine are working target rifles not high grade presentation anyway.

However this low wall is start from Scratch.  Thinking I should go with something that suits engraving even if not getting it done as part of the rifles build.  Or even getting the engraving done pay as I go, borders first then motif on the panels later. Am going to talk to Ken Hurst about that point.

I know a bit about Satin Nickle and how it stands up, Have a Colt 1911 thats Satin and it's a very durable finish. Very matt though which is probably a function of how much it was blasted first.  This pistols finish would not particulary suit engraving. I guess you could blast less and the finish would be finer but still satin not gloss.

What's silver wash ?  and of the two finishes which would be fairly authentic to a late 1880's production Low Wall

Boats

Boats

Go over to the other forum and pose the question to SDH in reference to the photos of his engraved low wall over there which is about as nice as I've seen.

Quote:

This is typical Turnbull work.
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It was in the Journal a few years ago... maybe even a cover shot.  If you can't find that, maybe we can prevail upon Dale to post a couple of shots.

Froggie

Depending on the polish, the Metalife goes from bright chrome to a dull satin. I had a Ruger #1 engraved by Mr Hurst (EXCELLENT work) and Metalife plated. I polished the metal to 320 grit. The benifits of the Metalife is it goes on thin so fits are not affected, high surface hardness (60+ Rc IIRC) and corrosion resistance (better than stainless steel). The engraving was then highlighted by rubbing black acrylic oil paint into the scratching and gently wiped off the excess. That was several years ago and it still looks great even after monthly use.

Flatlander that's a beautiful Roller that's for sure.  You have chosen a nice pattern too.  I think it may be the pattern controls the finish. I have a motif in mind with some illustrations that would need a contrasting background to stand out.

Not going to tell  you guys what it is though

Boats

I think this is what you're looking for, Boats:

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Boats,

     Look in your latest issue of the Journal for Mahovsky's Metallife (I believe that is the correct spelling.)  the owner, Ron, has been most supportive of ASSRA and is the one who did the plating for Dale53.  Not all of the folks who are franchised by M-L are known to work with guns and gun parts, but we can safely say this is part of Ron's repetoire.

HTH ~ Froggie

Here is a picture of one of my CPA Stevens in MetaLife.

looks like interesting stuff; where can I find out more info? 

Tried Googleing it, not much that I can find, although 1 site said it had a Rockwell hardness of 70 or greater.... Hummmm,  coat some of my endmill cutters with that stuff.... have them last longer. 

Mike, see my reference to Mahovsky's as found in the SSR Journal.  If you don't get the Journal, drop me a PM and I'll send you his address directly.  I don't know about mills, but I did get him to Metalife a set of bullet moulds for me... which I also wrote an article about.

Froggie

PS  I found his website:

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Dale

Thanks for the refresh.  I have the journal but it's 'somewhere"  Your Ballard is a work of art. Art that functons well too,  And you are right about Ken he does very good work. Am fortunate that I only live a few hours away from his house.

One question though, Were in the process did the Metal Life come in.  Did Ken engrave after it was applied ?  Think so but not sure.

Boats

Froggie is correct. Ken Hurst engraved my Ballard Frogmoor, then it was "Metal Lifed" and I applied the Acrylic filler. Ken Hurst had told me about using lampblack and oil to give more contrast for photography purposes.

I decided I wanted a more controllable and semi-permanent solution that could also be removed if I didn't like it. I settled on artists Acrylic paint applied with my finger. It takes a bit of finesse but really is not hard to do. It fills the engraving and makes it stand out. It has become a permanent part of my photographers "tool kit".

Thanks for the kind words, Boats. 

Yep, I am really happy with the Ballard. Everyone concerned in this project (Ballard, Bernie Harrell, Ken Hurst and Mahovsky Metal Life) did wonderful work.

Dale53