Remove engraving/refinishing?

Huntergirl · April 27, 2006, 12:50 PM

I have a beautiful 581 Nickel revolver that I got very cheap from the original owner. However it has his initials engraved in large scrolled capitals. Can these be removed, or engraved with a pattern over, or will it need to be completely refinished? If refinishing is in order, will it have to be nickel... expensive?

mete · April 27, 2006, 12:55 PM

Engraved ? You would have to grind off the engraving or it would be possible to fill the engraving with nickel plating but this would require a very knowledgeable plater .Then you would end up with a nickel plated gun.

Dfariswheel · April 27, 2006, 01:14 PM

About the only good option is to disguise the engraving.
While the engraving MIGHT be able to be removed by polishing it out, this depends on how deep it is.

If it's machine engraving, this is usually really "scratched" into the metal with a diamond point, and isn't that deep.

True hand engraving is actually cut into the metal with engraving tools and this IS deep.
While it might be possible to remove, the gun will likely have a noticeable thinning of the area, or a "dished out" look from the amount of metal that'll need to be removed.

One good option, is to have a good engraver disguise the initials by adding more engraving that "camouflages" the initials into a fancy design.
This is the method usually used for engraved guns where a new owner wants someone else's initials eliminated.

Since it's usually not possible to actually remove the initials, a good engraver simply engraves a new design around and in the original that actually makes the initials "disappear" into the new design.

In your case, instead of someones initials you'd have a fancy design on the gun, with the initials unrecognizable as part of the new design.

Huntergirl · April 27, 2006, 02:10 PM

Thanks alot for the info. Yeah, I was thinking maybe another engraving over it, might be doable.

**Unclenick** · April 28, 2006, 02:13 PM

Any way you go about it, you will need the Nickel redone. A newly egraved spot will be missing that.

On the other hand, if you ever turn to crime you now have a throw-away gun that will tend to lead to anyone but you, since you apparently don't share those initials.

Nick

Harry Bonar · April 28, 2006, 09:01 PM

Dear Shooter:
Sorry, but if it is pretty deep (as most engraving is) you cannot erase it!
Harry B.

Bill DeShivs · April 29, 2006, 06:25 PM

If the initials are engraved on a flat surface, you can have a silver, (nickel silver, gold,) plate made with your initials on it. It can be lead soldered over the existing initials. I would suggest you have an engraver or jeweler do this.
Engraving over old engraving to disguise it is not a good option. Theoretically, an engraver could remove the engraving and inlay a gold plate into the recess, but this is not advisable on a plated gun.
Bill

Huntergirl · April 30, 2006, 10:41 AM

Thanks alot for the info.

scgunsmith · May 3, 2006, 08:25 PM

where is it engraved?
if its a electric engraving pen, some can be silver plated over to fill it in, I have done it before with fairly good results

April 27, 2006, 12:50 PM	#1
Huntergirl Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 907	Remove engraving/refinishing? I have a beautiful 581 Nickel revolver that I got very cheap from the original owner. However it has his initials engraved in large scrolled capitals. Can these be removed, or engraved with a pattern over, or will it need to be completely refinished? If refinishing is in order, will it have to be nickel... expensive?

April 28, 2006, 02:13 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Any way you go about it, you will need the Nickel redone. A newly egraved spot will be missing that. On the other hand, if you ever turn to crime you now have a throw-away gun that will tend to lead to anyone but you, since you apparently don't share those initials. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 28, 2006, 09:01 PM	#6
Harry Bonar Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: In the Vincent, Ohio general area. Posts: 1,804	engraving Dear Shooter: Sorry, but if it is pretty deep (as most engraving is) you cannot erase it! Harry B.

May 3, 2006, 08:25 PM	#9
scgunsmith Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Location: Ridgeland SC (aka State of Confusion) Posts: 58	where is it engraved? if its a electric engraving pen, some can be silver plated over to fill it in, I have done it before with fairly good results __________________ Will work for guns or parts Full Time Gunsmith, Part time dog house tenant Http://www.lowcountry-gunsmith.com

April 27, 2006, 12:55 PM	#2
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	Engraved ? You would have to grind off the engraving or it would be possible to fill the engraving with nickel plating but this would require a very knowledgeable plater .Then you would end up with a nickel plated gun.

April 27, 2006, 01:14 PM	#3
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	About the only good option is to disguise the engraving. While the engraving MIGHT be able to be removed by polishing it out, this depends on how deep it is. If it's machine engraving, this is usually really "scratched" into the metal with a diamond point, and isn't that deep. True hand engraving is actually cut into the metal with engraving tools and this IS deep. While it might be possible to remove, the gun will likely have a noticeable thinning of the area, or a "dished out" look from the amount of metal that'll need to be removed. One good option, is to have a good engraver disguise the initials by adding more engraving that "camouflages" the initials into a fancy design. This is the method usually used for engraved guns where a new owner wants someone else's initials eliminated. Since it's usually not possible to actually remove the initials, a good engraver simply engraves a new design around and in the original that actually makes the initials "disappear" into the new design. In your case, instead of someones initials you'd have a fancy design on the gun, with the initials unrecognizable as part of the new design.

April 27, 2006, 02:10 PM	#4
Huntergirl Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 907	Thanks alot for the info. Yeah, I was thinking maybe another engraving over it, might be doable.

April 29, 2006, 06:25 PM	#7
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	If the initials are engraved on a flat surface, you can have a silver, (nickel silver, gold,) plate made with your initials on it. It can be lead soldered over the existing initials. I would suggest you have an engraver or jeweler do this. Engraving over old engraving to disguise it is not a good option. Theoretically, an engraver could remove the engraving and inlay a gold plate into the recess, but this is not advisable on a plated gun. Bill

April 30, 2006, 10:41 AM	#8
Huntergirl Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: Wyoming Posts: 907	Thanks alot for the info.