In Process... A Pre-27 357 Engraved Masterpiece in the Making [UPDATED 12/22]

RKmesa · Jul 20, 2017

[12-22-17 Update - Final product - post 36]

[8-30-17 UPDATE - SEE POST 29 FOR GOLD INLAY ON BARREL]

[7-22-17 UPDATE - SEE POST 20 FOR CYLINDER BACKGROUND CUTTING...]

It started out as a 6" 5-screw pre-27 with some condition issues (leper splotches in a variety of places - but no deep pitting - mostly surface stuff that could be buffed out) that I bought for a good price:

... the above photos make the gun look much better than it did in person...

So... off to Phil Quigley's it went for his magical touch. I gave him total freedom on the engraving and here's a few photos and a video of the engraving in process.

Frame in process - major scroll engraved:

Background cut out:

Background dot punched:

The master engraver in his studio:

... and a video of the barrel in process (click on the play button):

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ocwrsfX8mE&feature=share[/ame]

[8-30-17 UPDATE - SEE POST 29 FOR GOLD INLAY ON BARREL]

[7-22-17 UPDATE - SEE POST 20 FOR CYLINDER BACKGROUND CUTTING...]

I cannot wait...

les.b · Jul 20, 2017

Richard:

Thanks for sharing with us. This is going to be a fantastic addition to your already stunning collection!! I admire the design, and the cutout background are going to make a super finished project!!

Keep us in the loop!!

Best Regards, Les

colt_saa · Jul 20, 2017

SWEET

I can not wait to see the finished piece

KSK · Jul 21, 2017

The engraving looks awesome! That will be a very nice revolver.

tattooo · Jul 21, 2017

That engraving puts some big dollar over under shotguns to shame. Phenomenal work.

05CarbonDRZ · Jul 21, 2017

Very similar to Floral carving a Holster,Just a different medium.

Dave T · Jul 21, 2017

I met the engraver (Phil) once when I lived in Tucson. He wanted to do a gun for me but on a deputy sheriff's salary it just wasn't going to happen. He was very good back then ('80s I think) and must be even better at his craft now.

Dave

tattooo · Jul 21, 2017

I can't even imagine what something that detailed would cost.

boykinlp · Jul 21, 2017

Richard,
Very Nice! Does Phil have a website?
Larry

SDH · Jul 21, 2017

Are we supposeed to know who Phil is?

Was the background relief acid etched?

RKmesa · Jul 21, 2017

boykinlp said:
Richard,
Very Nice! Does Phil have a website?
Larry

At one point he had a website - but like he says in the video above, "me and electronics don't get along...". You can google Phil Quigley and find lots of photos of his work. In addition he is a member of the forum here and goes by "P.Quig" - I'm sure he would love a PM also, he posted his phone number in post 27 of this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...atience-creativity.html?483148=#post139183109

Thanks,

BAM-BAM · Jul 21, 2017

WOOOooooooow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!................. just wow!!

RKmesa · Jul 21, 2017

SDH said:
Are we supposed to know who Phil is?

I should have done a better job of naming him - I'll edit it above. The engraver is Phil Quigley - who spent years training under the talented hand of Lynton McKenzie. As noted above, he posts occasionally on this forum as P.Quig.

SDH said:
Was the background relief acid etched?

The black in the photo above is just candle soot, (wiped off on the high points) to show the relief/contrast. The background relief is cut out with a hammer and chisel. Then smoothed with a flat head punch and then dot punched as you see him doing in the video.

He's a real artist that has grown up using the guns that he engraves.

P.Quig · Jul 21, 2017

Thanks to all who commented here. I have been cutting for 30 years, using only hammers and chisel's. I have a face book page under ( engraving mastery). All are welcome to visit. My number if you desire to reach me is 480-235-9858. RKMESA has been a wonderful client and friend who is very patient. There are few of us doing it the old way by hand, many use machines. I really respect you folks who want the best done the right way.I thank all of you for supporting us Engravers who endeavor to do it the right way.

rct269 · Jul 21, 2017

"--------smoothed with a flat head punch-------."

The dawn comes!! I was sitting here wondering "How the hell does he DO THAT?!!

It's entirely too obvious---I never would have come up with that----way too simple for my over active imagination to see right off.

If there's some super complicated (and often entirely ridiculous) way to do something, that's going to be the first thing I come up with---only to have regular folks stare at me---as if to say, "That guy's nuts!!"

Ralph Tremaine

mojave30cal · Jul 21, 2017

Richard....what kind of grips are you going to put on that
beauty?

quinn · Jul 21, 2017

As others have commented, Richard, I can't wait to see the completed gun! What are you planning for stocks?

RKmesa · Jul 21, 2017

mojave30cal said:
...what kind of grips are you going to put on that beauty?

quinn said:
...What are you planning for stocks?

I have not decided yet... I have some beautiful lumber in all shapes and sizes, but that beauty may need a set of ivory service stocks to do it justice.

Some of the decision revolves around what Phil and I decide to do with the finish. We talked about getting the frame color-cased or french-grayed with a blued barrel and cylinder. Part of the challenge is that Turnbull will no longer color-case S&W frames over concerns of warping the thin side plates... (in this case made even thinner by the engraving).

... so we'll see. There may be some interim wood prior to finally deciding. One of the nice things about S&W grips is that it takes less than a minute to change out - which is is only slightly longer than the amount of time it takes for me to change my mind.

I also may try to get on KB's calendar for a set of custom wood stocks kind of like these ones on this pre-war Quigley engraved Outdoorsman:

Thinnes · Jul 21, 2017

Beautiful. Love ur guns Richard

RKmesa · Jul 22, 2017

SDH said:
Was the background relief acid etched?

Phil just posted a video of how he cuts out the background. Take a look to see the process...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taZG5UQ-X44&feature=youtu.be[/ame]

In Process... A Pre-27 357 Engraved Masterpiece in the Making [UPDATED 12/22]

RKmesa

les.b

US Veteran

colt_saa

KSK

tattooo

Member

05CarbonDRZ

Member

Dave T

Member

tattooo

Member

boykinlp

SDH

RKmesa

BAM-BAM

RKmesa

P.Quig

Member

rct269

mojave30cal

quinn

RKmesa

Thinnes

RKmesa

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