How Not to Choose an Engraving Project - or When to Cerakote a Revolver

[22hipower]

Some fourteen months ago I met an engraver at a local gun show. Thinking about the pieces of art that RKmesa, Doc44, Rad29 and others show here I thought it would be fun to have one engraved too. So, had a 25-5 that had been refinished in nickel and poorly so thought it might make a good candidate.

https://flic.kr/p/2op4hVN https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2op4hZA https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

First challenge was to get the nickel removed, turns out not all that many folks do it. Shipped it off last June and it came back with the nickel removed in January.

https://flic.kr/p/2op4i3b https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

Looked good to me, met with the engraver in January, started to discuss the design, etc. and left the gun with him. A few days later he called to say he had gone over the gun with a microscope and there were micro pits "all over it" and that it would cost "a lot" to get it ready to engrave and I probably wouldn't be all that happy with the result. Ok, great, here's another gun. Now, what to do with this one? Apparently that micro pitting was the reason the gun had been nickeled and another nickel finish probably wasn't going to be any better. Or a re-blue either. What to do?

https://flic.kr/p/2op37cr https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2op37dP https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

I know, sort of sacrilege to cerakote a S&W but it doesn't look too bad to me and those micro pits, most of them, at least can't be seen. Thoughts on what others might have done are welcome, not that I intend to be in the same position again.

One of these days I hope to be back with the engraved project finished. . . .if I live long enough.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[C3Ranger]

No harm, no foul. Still a nice piece, although I'm sure the process must have been a little frustrating.

 

[stansdds]

Covered in tiny pits... satin/bead blasted blue, bead blasted and hard chromed, or coated are good options. Tiny pits will show up with a factory style blue or nickel finish.

 

[444 Magnum]

I didn't see your gun, but micro-pitting isn't necessarily a deal breaker. This Colt Bisley in .41 Colt was in bad shape.

The .41 Colt is one of the more scarce calibers in the Bisley's. There were 3,159 made out of 44,350. The man who refurbished this one was talented and balanced. He didn't try to get all the roughness out. If he had, the pistol probably would have been ruined.

There are some pits and rough edges under the French Grey, but I think the pistol looks great. It's one of my favorites.

 

[jem102]

Always liked the Fire blued pins/screws. They look great on that Colt!

 

[JFthunder]

I have missed out entirely on the "French Grey" finish… with the fire blued and gold accents it looks fantastic.

 

[jfd]

Looks dang nice in Cerakote! Now go shoot the heck out of it!

 

[Igiveup]

I have a mis-matched Victory revolver that had a poor finish, but was a great shooter. I had it Cerakoted in "granite" and really like the finish. Also have a Victory that was .38spl. that someone cut the barrel to 3 inches and rounded the butt, kind of half way between a square butt and round butt. I turned out to be an accurate shooter so I had it Cerakoted, also. I like the Cerakote finish for certain guns, I feel it has a place.

 

[Buford57]

Your 25 is more than presentable with the Cerakote. Can't say that about the nickel. Now she's the girl you'd try to pick up during happy hour instead of at closing time.