I'm not too familiar with the different classifications of engravings. Can you enlighten me on the difference between an "A", "B", and "C" level engraving?

 

Sure, easy way to remember is the letter represents a % of gun that is covered by the engraving.

A= 25% (typically some on the barrel and the cylinder)
B= 50% (same as A but more of it)
C= 75% ( 3/4 the barrel, majority of the cylinder and most of the frame and parts, traditionally not the hammer or front sight)
D= 90-100% ( generally the entire gun with hammer and front sight) Until recently, post WWII, most guns were C or C+ at best.

 

So many beautiful Colts Cozmo! I wish I was not so "weird" about hammers, I'd look at getting a couple nice Colts. I just have a hard time having a single action without a bisley hammer. That is why the only USFA guns I have all wear the bisley or birds head spurred hammer. I wish I had kept the NF that had been worked over by both Jim Stroh and Alan Harton because I had Alan graft a bisley spur onto the top of the NF hammer.

 

I know that after USFA closed the doors and their “Birds head “ Bisley style hammers were bought up in an instant, according to former USFA management, Alex Hamilton had looked into having some machined as USFA would have produced them. Said it didn’t happen. Too expensive.
I suspect that’s one of the reasons why Cosmo suggested just acquiring a Bisley hammer and doing a “cut and Paste” if you will. Welding the Bisley spur on the standard single hammer. Those hammers are my favorite too.

I can’t imagine the time and cost to get a Colt custom shop gun in the A coverage, much less the C or C+ Master engraved.
I do like C the best too. I do like blued cased engraved, but I agree - it does hide the work and it usually take several photos at varying angles to capture the engravers work.

 

..I wish I was not so "weird" about hammers, I'd look at getting a couple nice Colts. I just have a hard time having a single action without a bisley hammer....

Thank you! I am aware of some of what you have that is a nice compliment You know making a Bisley hammer isn't all that tough right? All you have to be willing to do is cut up some one else's Bisley hammer (buy the spare parts) and cut off/shape the spur of the hammer in your gun to graft it on. TIG the Bisley spur to your hammer. Child's play for someone like Alan. Not having a wire feed, I know this having silver soldered the parts together on one of mine and the hammer is still going strong. Wasn't perfect, but not that far off either. It was my first attempt and I still have a couple of Bisley hammers I can cut up for the spur. I bought the Bisley parts from Brownells. Likely get them form VTI next time I need one.

 

Looks Nice

 

Coz, I completely agree about engraving on CCH, it's like camouflage for engraving. I also like the gold bands and CCH hammer. Did Chesiak install the medallions in the two-piece stocks? Dan once told me he refuses to put medallions in one-piece ivory stocks.

 

That is beautiful and very tasteful. Some engraved pistols are over done to the point of looking gaudy. I too like the gold bands.

Congrats.

 

I enjoy seeing engraved and inlaid revolvers. The ivory stocks are a great finishing touch.

Bill

 

Thanks everyone. I got some better photos to share this morning. Enjoy!

 

Coz, I completely agree about engraving on CCH, it's like camouflage for engraving. I also like the gold bands and CCH hammer. Did Chesiak install the medallions in the two-piece stocks? Dan once told me he refuses to put medallions in one-piece ivory stocks.

I suspect that so many guns got engraved long after the color case was worn to a silver patina that annealing and engraving the frame made sense.

Ivory and Chesiak? Rick, you and I have been around long enough to remember when "bark" was simply trash ivory, general discarded and used for anything but knife and pistol grip/handles. I wouldn't have noticed without pulling and looking again at the grips on this gun. It would seem Chesiak did a few thing differently on these grips. Besides his typical perfect fit and shape, first thing I noticed was he didn't peen the medallions over with the stake, but simply cut it off and glued them in. Makes since. Much smaller hole in the grip and a much stronger grip as the result. And best of all no chance of breaking the grip while peening the stake. The cracks (bark) in this pair were so big and so unstable he stabilized the ivory with some sort of glue which is clearly visible on the back of the right grip. I am sure that I don't wouldn't want to shoot them! Which I'd bet is the same thing Chesiak told the original buyer. Caveat Emptor!

 

Very nice. Subdued but elegant. I generally don't like medallions in my ivory stocks, but I do like these with both left and right ponies facing to the front. Do you know who did the work? Gold inlays generally indicate the work was done by a master engraver.

- - - Buckspen

 

….machined as USFA would have produced them. Said it didn’t happen. Too expensive.
I suspect that’s one of the reasons why Cosmo suppressed just acquiring a Bisley hammer and doing a “cut and Paste” if you will. Welding the Bisley spur on the standard single hammer.....

Not sure if that came out they way you intended. I sure didn't think I was suppressing the idea it was easy enough to add a Bisley spur to a typical SAA hammer. I made up my first one when you could still buy them direct for a USFA gun and just prior to USFA closing shop.

I didn't find adding a Bisley spur much of an effort to a normal USFA hammer that had the spur cut down prior. Anyone with reasonably good welding skills, like Alan Harton, could easily do it given the right parts to work with. Expense? Guess that depends on how much you want a hammer with a Bisley profile. I didn't find it out of the ordinary.

Some hammers I've had to play with that started out as USFA hammers. Easy enough to see where I got the idea of just how easy it would be to graft a Bisley spur onto the middle hammer. Didn't take much effort to do so. Even less to take a checkering file to the Bisley spur when done. Cosmetics weren't perfect which annoyed me but they were close enough. I've only ever needed just the one. But easy enough to make another if I needed to.

The Bisley hammer I made in the gun and a look at the odd shapes I have had turn up to get me started.

Certainly not the answer for everyone. But I was looking for a hammer spur that wouldn't poke a hole in me while carried in a cross draw holster while on a horse. Doesn't look like it but with good sharp checkering on the small spur, the gun is easy enough to cock. This works for me.

 

Not sure if that came out they way you intended. I sure didn't think I was suppressing the idea it was easy enough to add a Bisley spur to a typical SAA hammer. I made up my first one when you could still buy them direct for a USFA.

You are correct. Sorry about that..I missed that spellcheck changed a word to “suppressed” ... which was about the opposite of what I was trying to say..as you surmised. I changed suppressed to suggested.
Much easier to build one with skilled welding than to machine out entirely .. or find one to purchase.

 

Very nice. Subdued but elegant. I generally don't like medallions in my ivory stocks, but I do like these with both left and right ponies facing to the front. Do you know who did the work? Gold inlays generally indicate the work was done by a master engraver.

Thanks! Trying to track down the engraver now. All but one of my guns has been carved by a recognized master engraver. The engraver on this Colt I think is equal to any of them and may be better than some. Judge for yourself.

could be a signature...

 

Surmised? I should have...….surmised your intent

 

Cozmo, thanks for the info on the levels of engraving! Personally, i dig the engraved CCH gun. It has a subtle, yet agressive, kind of look. Intimidating. Whereas some nickel guns look like childrens cap guns to me (only some! ). With a CCH gun, you have to turn it to catch the light to make out the beauty of the engravings. Heck, you might see something new each time you admire it at different angles. If i had one, I'd name it "The Sleeper". Because people would need another glance or two to know what they're dealing with.

 

I can generally live with a blued gun...

 

Very nice!

 

Generally case colors do tend to obscure engraving, but every now and again you get lucky. I was able to acquire this hammer right after they started making them. They weren't sure how to price them out as a part so they sold me a couple at the same price as the standard hammer. About $160 i believe.

 

Outstanding!

 

Love the minimal engraving with gold bands. Sets off the case colors and ivory.

 

Coz,
Looking at your enlarged images I'm on the fence about the level of the engraver. There's little detail or deminsion in the scroll and a punch dot background would have looked cleaner than the stippling. This is just an observation not a criticism, it's a lovely gun!

 

I'm with Rick on this one, Compare to Mike454 gun, Big difference in quality of engraving, Mike454 clean flowing style, No rough edges

 

I'm with Rick on this one, Compare to Mike454 gun, Big difference in quality of engraving, Mike454 clean flowing style, No rough edges

I'd suspect Mike's gun was done by Dennis Kies? No matter his gun is a high bar

 

Mine is by Brian Powley. Always liked Kies work. He's done some VERY nice USFAs

 

Cozmo, thanks for sharing, I like the gold inlays and ivories .

Craig

 

Thanks Mike. Your Powley gun is one of my favorite examples of fine engraving and just as importantly...design.

 

I don't know. I find the form of a SAA elegant, even a Bisley Model. Like the vast majority of women on the earth, someone finds them beautiful. I might not want to marry them but I'd likely buy them dinner

I'd very seldom, and only if pressed, call your gun or you sister ugly

 

I'd very seldom, and only if pressed, call your gun or you sister ugly

Cozmo, you are a real gentleman, very polite and nice but we all know, that some guns are really ugly, not talking about the sisters.

 

Some guns are but it is so seldom a SAA Even the 100 year old beaters can hold some appeal. My point really, is one man's treasure, be it woman or gun is another's nightmare.

See now I am pressed, and I'd point out a open top with a brass frame and two piece fake ivory grips...….now that is some real ugly That is like dressing your girl friend up in a clown suit. Not saying anything wrong with clowns or a clown suit, per say But a two piece clown suit?

when she looks like this? Really?

 

Some guns are but it is so seldom a SAA Even the 100 year old beaters can hold some appeal. My point really, is one man's treasure, be it woman or gun is another's nightmare.

See now I am pressed, and I'd point out a open top with a brass frame and two piece fake ivory grips...….now that is some real ugly That is like dressing your girl friend up in a clown suit. Not saying anything wrong with clowns or a clown suit, per say But a two piece clown suit?

when she looks like this? Really?

While not as pretty, didn't all of the Navy grip open tops have brass grip frames? I thought the steel ones didn't come out until the Army grips were introduced. I could be wrong though.