Question About Laser Engraving

[Shoots Left]

Got an urge to maybe get some laser engraving done on my Sig p230 SL. I guess my inner Huggy Bear (the TV one, not Snoopy Dog) is screaming for attention or something, dunno.

Anyways before I get too deep in the weeds with this potential project I have a question about the worthiness of such a decision. The gun, albeit is in very good condition, was not very expensive IMO. This one was made for the US export market and has a 1994 proof mark on it so it doesn’t seem to be particularly rare or collectable as far as I can tell.

The gun was purchased simply as an impulse buy. It’s not something that I’ve longed for, it isn’t intended to be some sort of investment for later sale nor is it to serve as a future family heirloom. I bought it because I liked it. I have no emotional attachment to this gun so I’m thinking that this P230 might be a good canvas for a little enhancement.

So the question is, is there something that I’m missing that should prevent me from going forward with this idea?

Thanks.

[44 AMP]

If you're not concerned with its resale value, then its your gun, your money, your tastes, and screw what the rest of the world thinks.

That being said, and, not knowing your personal tastes in art, I would recommend avoiding themes that could be argued to reflect poorly on your character and attitudes, if you should ever wind up defending yourself in court.

A worst case situation, of course, but skulls and "kill them all" style images or language are probably not a really good idea. Other than that, I don't see any downside.

[tangolima]

Originally Posted by 44 AMP

If you're not concerned with its resale value, then its your gun, your money, your tastes, and screw what the rest of the world thinks.



That being said, and, not knowing your personal tastes in art, I would recommend avoiding themes that could be argued to reflect poorly on your character and attitudes, if you should ever wind up defending yourself in court.



A worst case situation, of course, but skulls and "kill them all" style images or language are probably not a really good idea. Other than that, I don't see any downside.

I concur. I turned down a win m70 rifle for this very reason. The skulls engraved on the stock gave me the creep.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Bill DeShivs]

Laser engraving is great for marking things. I have seen very little that enhances the look of any firearm-but perhaps that is the fault of the operators and patterns.
Most decorative scroll-type laser engraving looks like it was designed by a 10 year old.

[Jim Watson]

"Some laser engraving" covers a lot of ground, limited only by your taste and budget.
What did you have in mind, scroll work and a portrait of your dog in imitation of the hand engraving on a London Best game gun? Or maybe your Army unit badge.

APW does it.
https://apwcogan.com/laser-engraving/

[Ricklin]

Really depends on your taste. I think if a fan of traditional firearm engraving you may be disappointed with laser engraving.

[Shoots Left]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I’m not into Goth stuff, skulls or any other theme which may convey lifestyle choices. I got the bug up my six when I saw a whole bunch of pics on the interweb of some very tastefully adorned PPK/PPK/s’ of which many were done in a way that was simply neutral in nature. Obviously most, if not all, of the examples looked to be engraved by hand…as it rightfully ought to be. However I’m not looking to turn the P230 into a work of art so I looked into laser engraving.

I found a dude about an hour or so away from me that looks like he does good work. In his gallery photos there are some examples of pistol slides and other frame work that appears to have actual depth and texture to the engraving as opposed to looking like a decal was applied.

I still need to figure out what exactly would look good on that little Sig and verify that the engraver's work has depth as well.

I've attached a snap of the P230.

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've had laser engraving done. It's not very deep so if you don't like it you can likely sand it down and refinish.

[Bill DeShivs]

Laser engraving can be deep or shallow. Fiber lasers can actually sculpt metal.

[stagpanther]

Kinda of like ballistics--the more refined detail and depth you expect from a laser--the more power and advanced the beam capabilities will need to be. The laser examples above are mostly fairly rudimentary IMO and I personally wouldn't pay for something like that except for simple monogramming or caliber ID maybe. A couple of the Laser Lab's look really good--almost makes me wonder if they dropped a couple of hand-carved examples into the gallery of pictures.

[Shoots Left]

Believe me I’m approaching this idea with more than a little apprehension. I have no intention of trashing a sexy little gun like this one with “cheap ink”.

If anything is ever done to it, it’ll be an enhancement as opposed to a series of gouges just for the heck of it. I’m not married to the idea after all, just trying to quell a wild hair if I can.

Anyways one big concern that I had was if the pistol has some sort of intrinsic value that I wasn’t aware of. That doesn’t seem to be the case so we’ll see where this ultimately goes.

Thanks for all the feedback,

Happy Easter

[glider]

There isn't much room on that little pocket rocket for engraving is there. I'm afraid it will look awfully busy. I've often considered having my initials engraved on the bottom of a trigger guard but that would certainly hurt resale. I've seen some engraving that was very nice, but it wasn't laser done. I do have a few guns that will never leave me and will be passed on so I could do those maybe. Are there engravers doing a lot of work that are well known?

[Bill DeShivs]

https://www.engravingforum.com/ is a great place to find hand engravers.

Have you thought about new grips, with a plaque with your initials engraved on it?

[Shoots Left]

Thanks for link to the engraver's forum Bill. Lots of great information and eye candy in there.

My initials really aren't a viable option as they are; A.S.S.

Sadly, there is no level of calligraphy that would turn those initials into anything more than lipstick on a pig.

My folks swore on their graves that this wasn't intentional. Still, I wonder sometimes.

[stagpanther]

Thanks for link to the engraver's forum Bill. Lots of great information and eye candy in there.

My initials really aren't a viable option as they are; A.S.S.

Sadly, there is no level of calligraphy that would turn those initials into anything more than lipstick on a pig.

Those are great initials! Just put "Bad" in front of it.

[The Happy kaboomer]

ITS CHEAP..........SORRY........AND IF YOU USE THE FIREARM......IT WILL WEAR OFF LIKE A CHEAP BANDADE.........I have a S&W 629 mtn gun and a S&W 686 mtn gun that ALL that cheap lazer lettering is GONE....Wore off.........You cAN't even tell what brand it is unless you know the gun.

[Bill DeShivs]

Stagpanther-
A monogram of your initials would be basically aSs. It wouldn't look bad.

[Bill DeShivs]

Lots of bad information here.

There are several kinds of lasers. Some will not engrave steel. There are some that will literally cut a gun in half!

Generally, fiber lasers are used to engrave steel. They can cut deep into the metal. Diode lasers can cut steel, but it takes quite a few passes. CO2 lasers will not cut steel.

Simple lettering can be done with a diamond drag pantograph engraver.

I am a hand engraver, but I have several pantograph machines and a diode laser (that I have never used!