My first gun engraving

[Jroettger]

Here is my first experience with a gun thanks to a commission from my brother (seems like new businesses always start with friends and family). It was done with the stainless Ruger revolver fully assembled. With the barrel attached it created a "well" to work in with the barrel sticking in my face the whole time. A simple getting my feet wet job. Thanks to everything I've learned on the internet and especially Steve's carbalt steel and cutting tip geometry I was able to venture into a new domain from previously working exclusively as a jewelry engraver. My goal this year is to get my firearms dealers license and do more paying work in the firearms field.
I really feel that this was only possible because of what I learned on the internet the last few years. After this "baby step" on a gun considered by some to be too hard to be workable and in an area very hard to reach I feel I am ready to take a larger commission with some technical confidence. Of course in the future I will try to only work on disassembled guns. My next goal is to make a full engraving coverage "sample" piece to show potential clients.