What's your thoughts on gold inlay?

computerdynamics · #1 05-10-2012, 01:08 PM

I've been experimenting with gold inlay on some of my guns and wanted to get any opinions you guys might have? Criticism excepted with no hard feelings.... well maybe a few.. ; )
Tony

colt_saa · #2 05-10-2012, 01:30 PM

Gold filling of lettering is usually referred to as filling or gold wash.

Gold inlay is usually cut into the firearm and soft 24K gold is hammered into place. Here is my model 52 with gold inlay.

That being said, I am often fond of filling lettering with various colors.

I used to use black or red crayon for stainless guns and yellow tire marker for blued guns. I did play with Bonanza Gold years ago.

These days I use Testors model paint to fill lettering. It offers a HUGE color choice.

Only the S and F on the safety were factory done on these autoloaders

JCS&W · #3 05-10-2012, 01:36 PM

While I like it, I do not want the "color fill" gold lettering on my guns. There is absolutely nothing wrong in doing it. They are YOUR guns. If you think it adds something, or looks good to you, heck, do it. I will not turn my nose up at them.

computerdynamics · #4 05-10-2012, 01:52 PM

what I used was a vial of powdered gold that I got from my mom many years ago, maybe an oz.? I mixed some of it with two part epoxy and very quickly rubbed it in and then cleaned the excess with Acetone. It took very little of the gold to do the gun. I guess it's kinda pimpy but it's a gun from dad with the filling from my mom. It's a family treasure either way and is going nowhere but to my daughter someday and maybe my grandaughter after that. I worried about it hurting the value but I'm never selling it regardless and if I'm gone, it's their's to do with what they please. ; ) I laugh when I think I could have gone out and bought Testors paint for a few bucks and had the same look and not using maybe $50-$75 worth of gold.... ; ) Oh well. Thanks guys!
Tony

computerdynamics · #5 05-10-2012, 01:55 PM

Beautiful set of semi autos!!! I like the threaded barrel H&K especially (second to the S&W of course)!
Tony

xray97 · #6 05-10-2012, 02:11 PM

Has anyone had any gold inlay done or redone? I have a commemorative S&W on which the gold inlay has "faded" over the years. I would like to have it redone. I contact S&W and they advised that they don't do this work. I have also e-mailed a couple of gun engravers without any luck. I've thought about checking with local jewelers to see if they do that type work. Any advice?

colt_saa · #7 05-10-2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xray97

Has anyone had any gold inlay done or redone? I have a commemorative S&W on which the gold inlay has "faded" over the years. I would like to have it redone. I contact S&W and they advised that they don't do this work. I have also e-mailed a couple of gun engravers without any luck. I've thought about checking with local jewelers to see if they do that type work. Any advice?

If you are referring to gold wash of the lettering like in these photographs, you can do that yourself with a Bonanza Gold kit

It is not really Gold, it is either brass or perhaps bronze that is the powdered metal. My memory fails.

Solvents and oils slowly clean it out of the logos, lettering and roll marks. Penetrating/cleaning oils are the biggest culprits.

xray97 · #8 05-10-2012, 03:35 PM

[QUOTE=colt_saa;136508946]

If you are referring to gold wash of the lettering like in these photographs, you can do that yourself with a Bonanza Gold kit

It is not really Gold, it is either brass or perhaps bronze that is the powdered metal. My memory fails.

Solvents and oils slowly clean it out of the logos, lettering and roll marks. Penetrating/cleaning oils are the biggest culprits.

Thanks for your response.
I have tried the "gold wash" and wasn't happy with the results. The gun I want to return to original condition is factory "Class A" engraved. The gold wash tends to leach, at least a small amount, into the adjoining engraving. This tends to give the trademark, barrel markings, etc a blurred appearance. I would really prefer to have it gold inlayed if I can find a resource. I was disappointed that S&W factory won't do the work and offered no suggestions.

colt_saa · #9 05-10-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xray97

Thanks for your response.
I have tried the "gold wash" and wasn't happy with the results. The gun I want to return to original condition is factory "Class A" engraved. The gold wash tends to leach, at least a small amount, into the adjoining engraving. This tends to give the trademark, barrel markings, etc a blurred appearance. I would really prefer to have it gold inlayed if I can find a resource. I was disappointed that S&W factory won't do the work and offered no suggestions.

The man you need to contact is Wayne D'Angelo. He is a former master engraver at S&W and now working on his own.

He can fix this for you and at a price that will be less than what the Factory would charge if they had the manpower to take on the job.

xray97 · #10 05-10-2012, 04:48 PM

Thanks, I'll give that a shot!

TAROMAN · #11 05-12-2012, 03:00 AM

At least its not permanent.

haggis · #12 05-12-2012, 10:24 PM

I think gold engraving looks great... on high grade shotguns. Just my personal opinion. YMMV.

Buck

computerdynamics · #13 05-13-2012, 03:50 PM

You got that right! nothing like a beautifully engraved and inlaid shotgun, of course it's the 20k to 100k part that's hard for me to manage..... ; (
Tony