Anyone ever inlay the turn line on a cylinder?

[phatmax]

So... I was thinking one day of having one of my guns engraved, but, gol-darn it, I don't see the point in having a gun that won't be shot...

The biggest problem being a turn line ruining the looks of the finish.

So, has anyone ever inlaid the turn line ring with a metal that wouldn't really wear from use, would not cause a weird galvanic reaction, and would look good?

 

[Iggy]

I saw one where that had been done. It was years ago and I don't remember where I saw it.

Looked pretty spiffy.

 

[Green Frog]

Years ago I saw an engraved revolver that had some sort of engraved ring around the track of the turn ring... sort of roughed up already to camouflage the effects of use. I've often thought that would be what I would have done on an engraved revolver I planned to shoot.

Froggie

 

[2152hq]

Anything you inlay in that path will be softer than the steel it replaces.
But it's done fairly often. As much for show as for the idea of disguising the turn ring

If it is inlayed and the intention is to use the gun,,have the locking bolt/cylinder bolt surface highly polished.
A mirror polish on it's surface with no sharp edge to scar the cylinder surface is the best way to avoid a noticable turn line, inlayed cylinder surface or not.

The easiest way on an engraved gun to be carried & used is to choose a stainless steel revolver & not worry about an inlay there.
Leave a narrow blank line/area in the pattern that will allow for the bolt to drop.
Polish the bolt as above to avoid as much of a line as possible.
If and when a noticable line developes, a very careful hand polishing of the blank area of stainless steel restores the like new look.

 

[colt_saa]

I love the look of cylinder and barrel bands. However I would not use one to hide a turn line. Gun guys understand a turn line

Most engraving is done to leave as little as possible under the cylinder bolt

 

[chief38]

Basically you need to resign yourself to the fact that if you are going to shoot S&W or Colt revolvers there WILL be a turn line.

If you inlaid a softer metal than the gun's steel it wold STILL develop a turn line and if you could put a harder metal on the cylinder you would wear the cylinder stop on the revolver.

I am a fairly anal retentive person however even I don't view a turn line or blue wear on the ejector rod as a defect. These two wear points WILL happen in short order when your revolver is used.

Hey, look at it like a new car...... only the first scratch hurts!

Chief38

 

[flundertaker]

crazy idea, what about a blued pistol with a SS cylinder? I think that would look great. Never seen one.

 

[garbler]

When I was in the business I had a few customers who didn't like any evidence that they shot the gun and the cylinder turned so I did this. It's a very old polish technique that was in vogue about fifteen years ago or so. I still have a couple of pin guns like this early 625 with it.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=108672&stc=1&d=1364612479

 

[wiley]

+1 on the above. There used to be a gunsmith online that did Colts in this way to improve DA trigger feel.

 

[H Richard]

Yes, I saw a Colt SAA blued gun with some tasteful engraving with a little silver wire inlay around the edges and a triple wide inlay around the turn line. It was very very pretty.

 

[Babalooie]

A customer of ours had a 629 modified by Cylinder & Slide. One of the things done, was to polish the drag line area like Garbler's photo. Looked pretty slick.

 

[AzRedleg]

Colt "I" and "E" frame revolvers do not develop a "turn line" if the shooter closes the cylinder so the bolt lines up with the stop. The bolt on these revolvers do not drag on the cylinder like Smiths/Rugers/Dan Wessons. It stays retracted until it is lined up with the notch. With a little care you can shoot thousands of rounds with a Python and not develop a "turn line."