Engraved mod-17 Harvey .224 KAY-CHUK

[chisels]

This engraving looks like it was executed by Rudolph Kornbrath or Arnold Griebel. The background is lightly removed and the engraving has vines in a floral arabesque.

I've seen pieces done by these early Masters and their work was fine and not bold or sculpted to the degree of the more contemporary engravers.

I worked for S&W as their Master Engraver for 25 years and seen some outstanding examples, this is one I'd put in that category.

 

[hotrod150]

I am totally ignorant about engraving, but I have learned a few things about wildcat cartridges over the years. Anyone interested in old-time wildcats, like this .224 Harvey Kay-Chuck, would do well to pick up PO Ackley's Handbook for Shooters & Reloaders vol 1 & 2. Per Ackley, the .224 Kay-Chuck is a shortened 22 Hornet specifically designed by Lakeville Arms Inc of Lakeville CT for use in revolvers esp the S&W K22. The standard Kay-Chuck case is severely tapered like it's parent, but the "Blown Out Kay-Chuck" is an "improved" version fireformed to minimum case taper, with a sharper shoulder angle & the shoulder moved forward. There is a corresponding full-length 22 K-Hornet rifle cartridge, which according to Ackley was one of the very first blown-out fire-formed catridges.
In case you've never heard of him, PO Ackley was a well-known gunsmith & barrel-maker back in the day, and quite an advocate of "improved" cartridges, having been involved in developing several himself. In spite of being about 50 years old, his books make fascinating reading. When you see what wildcatters were doing back then, you will realize that there's really very little going on today with "new" cartridges that someone else didn't think of a long time ago.