He asked for Full Coverage Engraving. . . .

[22hipower]

In 1990 a long time Forum member here, Model39 (sadly no longer with us), commissioned Jim DeMunck (2152hq), another long time Forum member, to engrave a S&W 629 for him. He asked that it be "full coverage engraving with gold inlay." I think he more than got what he asked for.

I was fortunate to recently acquire this piece of art (thank you RKmesa for pointing me to it) and want to share it here.

I contacted Jim recently and he was willing to provide information about the gun and his many years of engraving and other precision firearms work. Perhaps he'll see this post and provide additional comments, hope so.

Every time I pick this one up I find another detail I hadn't noticed before; 24k gold front sight insert, gold outline rear sight, engraving on the face of the cylinder, cylinder flutes, ejector rod, rear sight and screws, thumb piece and more. In my opinion truly amazing engraving. Sure hope I can find more of Jim's work. If any of you have some, please post it.

Hope you like it as much as I do.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[mchom]

Gorgeous revolver. The gold inlay really looks amazing! Congratulations!

[Breakaway500]

..and a No-dash 629 to boot! (pinned/recessed) Stunner!!

[Fishinfool]

What a beautiful piece. We have some real talent on this forum. Congratulations on acquiring a special, one of a kind 629.

Larry

[msp2640]

It's a pleasure to view some of the high end firearms that members here possess and are willing to share in pics. That is stunning and I know virtually nothing about engraving, but am gradually learning, mostly from RKmesa's posts. Congrats on being the caretaker of that 29! Bill in MA

[Glenn54]

Very cool. Amazing artwork for sure. Is this done by hand?

[22hipower]

Originally Posted by Glenn54

Very cool. Amazing artwork for sure. Is this done by hand?

By hammer and chisel. Perhaps Jim will be along to tell us how he did it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[75Vette]

It's hard to find the words... and didn't miss nothing! I noticed even the screw head on the front of the rear sight got the treatment. You're truly fortunate to be this gun's caretaker.

[dozer]

Attention to detail is amazing on this special engraving

[sophie]

Beautiful engraving. I can’t imagine the many, many hours involved spent engraving that fine pistol.
Sure is pretty.Congratulations on finding that nice Model 629.

[dobegrant]

Beautiful revolver and incredible craftsmanship, wonder how many hours laboring over a magnified glass.

[AJ]

Very beautiful piece. Would not want to own it for fear of scratching it.

[Krogen]

When 2152hq posts something here, I always pay attention. His breadth of knowledge and willingness to share it is very much appreciated. I learn something with every post I read. Until now, I had never seen his work. I am hugely impressed!

[cndrdk]

(as we say out here in Weatherford).....Da-yum

[Protocall_Design]

I normally don't care for full coverage, but this one is tasteful and elegant. It is a master work of art.

[Lucnic]

I don’t have the words. Much less the talent or patience.

[TAROMAN]

Texas!
What else but the ultimate BBQ gun!

[chief38]

It always amazes me to the extent and detail engravers can go. I can't imagine having to look through an Optimizer all day long - everyday. All I can say is ..... WOW!

[jdlii]

Fantastic!

[handejector]

THAT IS FULL COVERAGE!
I met Jim quite a few years ago at OGCA. He is a joy to talk to. I knew immediately I had met a very talented man. He occasionally had with him a piece he was cutting, and I enjoyed seeing his work. After he knew I was interested in his work and might know what I was looking at, he brought two thick 3 ring binders with color pics of his work. It took hours to look through them.
I did not know how much data about him he wanted posted here, so I never said much about who he is. I always smiled when someone disagreed with comments he made about engraving. About all I ever said was something to the effect of: "When 2152hq comments about engraving, we all should pay attention."
That is very impressive work. Congrats on acquiring it.

[Rad29]

Great engraved gun Jeff! I really like how areas that typically are not touched are very well done! Great addition to your engraved gun collection!

Bob

[Marksman]

When I worked in the Browning Arms gunsmithing shop I watched our in house engravers work at engraving every day, I could not imagine doing that detailed work day after day. I also got to meet J. Baerton Browning's master engraver at the Herstal engraving shop, he was working in the Browning booth at the SHOT show doing gold inlay and gold line work. He made it look easy, the gold line work on that 629 is of exceptional quality.

[handejector]

The way all the screw heads are engraved is just .......sassy.
It just dawned on me that the sights are totally white- did he plate them or what?

[RKmesa]

Jeff:

That is a real beauty!!! I am so glad that it ended up in your wonderful collection. One of the things that I loved about that gun is that the style is unique, very distinct, consistent throughout, and extremely well-executed truly making it a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. I also love all of the little touches that you described, where most everything that could be engraved or inlaid... is engraved or inlaid. The only thing that would have made this gun better... is if it was a .357 - but in that case, I would have been posting the photos rather than you... I look forward to seeing it in person.

Thank you for sharing,

[SS336]

Originally Posted by handejector

THAT IS FULL COVERAGE!
I met Jim quite a few years ago at OGCA. He is a joy to talk to. I knew immediately I had met a very talented man. He occasionally had with him a piece he was cutting, and I enjoyed seeing his work. After he knew I was interested in his work and might know what I was looking at, he brought two thick 3 ring binders with color pics of his work. It took hours to look through them.
I did not know how much data about him he wanted posted here, so I never said much about who he is. I always smiled when someone disagreed with comments he made about engraving. About all I ever said was something to the effect of: "When 2152hq comments about engraving, we all should pay attention."
That is very impressive work. Congrats on acquiring it.

Even the rear sight screws, all of them!
Amazing work. I too would like to know how something like this would take.
So when is the range report. 😎😂

[Onomea]

My goodness! I, too, always read 2152hq's deeply informed and informative posts with interest, and knew he had experience with engraving in addition to gunsmithing but..... My goodness gracious!

[DGNY]

The intensity and symmetry of this is almost overwhelming. It bespeaks great vision and compelling talent.

And yet there is an approachability about it, too, that would make it a star in a refined display, in the library for show-and-tell, or at a mighty fine BBQ.

Thank you for sharing.

[pittpa]

Originally Posted by SS336

Even the rear sight screws, all of them!
Amazing work. I too would like to know how something like this would take.
So when is the range report.

Just don’t shoot reloads in it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[taz666]

The result of all the stars aligning in a skilled craftsman's career. This piece is part of that man's journey.

[Pisgah]

The word "overdone" does come to mind -- but, darn, I can't quit looking at it! Incredible work...

[Photog]

Impressive or magnificent dosen't even begin to describe it!

[2152hq]

Thanks to every one for the kind comments.
Jeff contacted me about this revolver and asked if this was one of mine.

With the ser# I was able to confirm it was from my old FFL & State records.
Then the photos came and I knew right away.

I took this one on in early 1990 from Forum member Model39. Along with it a Colt Officers ACP which if I remember right was also stainless steel.
33+yrs goes by pretty fast.

The 629 cut beautifully. No problems at all. Thinking back, I remember that Colt had a slide like Granite but the frame was much like the 629 when cutting it.

Stainless guns can be all over the map as far as toughness when you go to cut them.
Some of the carbon steel offerings as well.
The orig Winchester mfg 21 comes immediately to mind. A tool breaker for sure. It stubbornly introduced me carbide engr bits when I started doing those on a regular basis in the 90's.
The newer CSMCo 21 is not as hard. 8620 steel.
The Ruger #1 can be quite a piece of rock as well. Then another can cut like a normal gun. Many engravers stay right away from them.

The gold inlay on the 629 is all 24k,
Looks the best for line and lettering inlay as it doesn't tarnish. Easiest to work with too.
Alloyed gold (20k, 18k, 14k etc) has different shades of yellow and is nice for those effects but work hardens quick as you start to hammer & punch it into place. That quality is a good thing when making raised 'overlays' as the finished product will stand some wear. The same raised figure in pure gold/24k will wear quickly given the same treatment and handling.

The engraving itself is all hammer & chisel with some palm graver work mixed in.
I had to switch to an air assist tool in the 20teens after a couple bad accidents and could no longer hold the hammer (and chisel at times) steady.
I really didn't want to give up my H&C, but it was either that, or the end of the engraving gig.


Handejectors comment about the sights being possibly Stainless?..
I don't really recall now..
I did, at the customers request put a gold line inlay in the sight blade on the rear sight. That's in one of the pics.
I had to have taken the rear sight all apart to have that blade itself to work on in the vise.
I may have simply left the blade polished in the white.
Then have polished the rest of the rear sight assembly parts to 'In the White' as well.
Then reassembled the sight.
That quite possibly was a customer request idea. He was very much into ideas and what the final look would be.

Whether a SS rear sight was ever available, I personally don't know.
Stuff like that doesn't register inside my Dutch noggin.

The orig project included a set of oversize Target Ivory grips.
I fitted them. They had S&W medallions but I can't say for sure if I mounted them or they were already set. I think I put them in the grips.

The grips were smooth, uncheckered. I don't recall if I put the elongated aspect 14k gold diamond flush inlay around the grip screw escutcheons on this set. I had done so for the same customer on a full engraving job on a pre-27 for him That rev has smooth Ivory Magna style grips with that gold inlay in them.

As far as the amt of time/hours to do a job like this,,it's about a 100hr project +/-

It goes right along generally. If the steel co-operates and cuts easily and you don't have to put extra time into cleaning up a basket job of a gun just to get to the point where you can begin engraving,,it's about a 100hr job!

Add things like gold figures of Skippy the family dog and an inlay of your
first car, a 49 Plymouth under the Sassafras tree (make sure the tree looks exactly like the Sassafras tree in the faded photo),,then the hours can get very long.

Changing engraving styles to something like deep relief adds time to the work.
If the gun is carbon steel and it's to be blued when done,,add the cost of bluing.

After 50yrs of this, 30+ full time, I've finally retired from it, but I still work most every day doing the same thing.
It started as a hobby and it seems it's going to end as one.
Not a bad thing I quess.

I gave up my FFL
and State licenses.

I've plenty of work in the way of projects to keep me busy.
Stuff I stashed over those yrs to get to some time.
The old 'I can make something out'a that' . Finally decades later in some instances, I might have time to get to some of those. Some maybe not.
Still engraving and doing gunsmithing for a hobby, and just a little slower.

More time for getting out to the Range too. I have to test fire these completed projects afterall!

[Krogen]

Thank you for the post, 2152hq! It's a treat to have a skilled artist tell us a bit of what goes on behind the curtain. In one word, it's simply magic to me. Your story reads as if we're sitting at the kitchen table having some coffee and a chat. I like that.

[colt_saa]

Congratulations Jeff, that is a stunning piece

A great addition to Any Collection

I could sit in the big recliner sipping some nice old single malt Scotch from Speyside (probably Balvinie 21 Portwood) and enjoy the depth of artistry that your new acquisition exhibits.

The gold wire-line work is such an elegant touch.

The cylinder face, ejector rod, cylinder release and sight assembly are areas that you do not usually expect to see engraved, even on a "full coverage" Revolver

Now I have to make sure that I do not miss the next Symposium . . . I want to see that beauty in person

I presume it will be on display

[Jolly Bill]

[QUOTE=22hipower;141842060]In 1990 a long time Forum member here, Model39 (sadly no longer with us), commissioned Jim DeMunck (2152hq), another long time Forum member, to engrave a S&W 629 for him. He asked that it be "full coverage engraving with gold inlay." I think he more than got what he asked for.
. . . . .

Sure hope I can find more of Jim's work. If any of you have some, please post it.

Hope you like it as much as I do.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Thank you Jeff for showing us your Model 629 with Jim DeMunck's wonderfully performed "full coverage engraving with gold inlay".

As the above Reply's have expressed, probably won't find one nicer. And thanks for sharing that with us and an extra special High 5 for the great photography showing all that wonderful detail.

You asked for any other examples of Jim's work so I thought I would oblige.

Here are a few pictures of my my S&W .38/44 Outdoorsman, SN S123159 (1954+/-) that I got from Jim 12 years ago. I posted some pictures of this gun on another thread a couple years ago, so some of you may have already seen it.

As you can see, it's another fantastic job done by Jim. Those are ivory grips that I think Jim said were from a Colt SAA. Please note that he moved the S&W logo from the right side to the left.

I also included a picture of Jim that I took several years ago and he is holding the S&W revolver pictured below. I had it with me for Show 'n Tell at our local gun club. And by the way, we were at the same gun club this afternoon shooting some Skeet. Jim was wearing that same denim jacket that still looks good on him.

Jim was shooting skeet with his 12 gauge single shot break open Prussian Charles Daly trap gun choked extra full. He was shooting his 5/8 ounce reloads. And typically at station #1 high house, he waits til the bird gets out to about where the low house is and then shoots and usually breaks the bird.

I have 3 other pieces that Jim engraved but they are not S&W's.

So Jeff, thank you for starting this thread and sharing with us that dandy 629 that you have. It really doesn't have to shoot that good, altho I'm sure that it does. It's a winner any way you look at it.

Jolly

[22hipower]

Great to see that gun and enjoyed your post, and thanks for the picture of Jim too. Another great piece of art by Jim, hope we get to see more of them here. Shooting skeet with a "choked extra full with 5/8 ounce of lead," now that's a pretty good trick.

I don't know that anyone would mind some non-S&W guns being posted here as part of this original post; I know I'd love to see them. And more pictures of your Outdoorsman would be welcome too.

Thanks much for posting and sharing.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[rct269]

I am not normally a man of few words, but---"Some's good, more's better, and too much is just right!"

WOW!!

Ralph Tremaine

Edited to add: I usually reserve this pithy little saying for horsepower or money, but it's particularly appropriate here too.

[Jolly Bill]

Originally Posted by 22hipower

Great to see that gun and enjoyed your post, and thanks for the picture of Jim too. Another great piece of art by Jim, hope we get to see more of them here. Shooting skeet with a "choked extra full with 5/8 ounce of lead," now that's a pretty good trick.

I don't know that anyone would mind some non-S&W guns being posted here as part of this original post; I know I'd love to see them. And more pictures of your Outdoorsman would be welcome too.

Thanks much for posting and sharing.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Jeff, here are 5 more pictures of my .38/44 that Jim engraved. (5 more to follow in next Reply.)

Bill

[Jolly Bill]

5 more pictures of my .38/44 O'man that Jim D engraved to add to the ones above.

[taz666]

I like how the serial number blends in with the engraving as if it was part of it. Nice work Jim!

[Jolly Bill]

Per 22hipower/Jeff's request for other examples of the engraving done by 2152hq, and rather than intrude on 22hipower's thread here, I have 3 other examples to show so I started 3 new threads in the Firearms & Knives: Other brands.

One new thread for each of the three (3) examples.

Here: Some Non S&W Examples of Engraving by Forum Member 2152hq

And here: 2nd Example of non S&W Engraved guns by 2152hq

And here: 3rd Example of non S&W engraved by Forum Member 2152hq

Thanks for looking.

Bill