I have been wanting to buy my dad a special gun. He's retired State Trooper and Detective. I know he us wanting a carry revolver and I have a M66 2.5" with a nice set of S&W combats on it. I am thinking about having the side plate engraved either with the agency's emblem or his badge. I will also get his name, rank and badge number on it. I have a couple questions

1. Who can do this work? Price isn't a factor. Quality is.
2. Would you go with the agency emblem or badge?
3. Use his original badge number or the number he retired with ? (a handfull of weenies with criminal justice degrees who advanced much faster in administration because of the degree, later in his career had badge numbers reassigned when they realized guys from my dad's era who had been on the job for a couple decades had badge numbers considerably lower than theirs) His original badge number is 2 digit. The retired number is high 3 digit.
4. Would I just remove the side plate and send it or better to ship the whole gun?

Yes, I realize this work will effect resale value but it's going to be a gift to him that will revert back to me at his death. I don't see either of us selling it.

Tons of guys can do this.

I would go with the badge with his initial number

Wayne D'Angelo is a master of all engraving but Bulino engraving should really do the badge justice (no pun intended). He was S&W's Master Engraver before going out on his own.

Why not send the entire gun and get some scroll work done as well?

The following examples are from his website D'Angelo Engraving Art