I have 2 barreled actions done by Stuart Satterlee in 416 & 450 Rigby. They will be open sight rifles. I would like to dress them up a bit,maybe have the bolt knob checkered,and having the square bridges done with a tasteful border design. Having the grip cap and bottom metal scrolled . The floorplates I would like to have a game scene engraved also.

I was just wondering what the current thinking on engraving a DGR rifle is now. I found a thread about last years guild show in Reno and it mentioned a very light attendence. Maybe it is the economy or engraving is not that important. These barrelled actions are integral with a 1/4 rib so they will be really nice when I get them done. I have a $1500 budget per rifle for the engraving and I really don't know what something like this might cost.

If anybody has some photos to share that would be great.



I like this floorplate scene,but that would probably kill my budget.

Here is some on one of mine. Pics aren't the greatest, but you can get the idea. I like it.

Now that's nice! Mike, maybe you could PM me and give me some info on what something that nice costs. Thanks.

Personally, I don't care for a lot of engraving on a DGR. It is kinda of like putting a lot of make up on a pretty woman......they start looking trashy......just my opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by MHC_TX:
Personally, I don't care for a lot of engraving on a DGR. It is kinda of like putting a lot of make up on a pretty woman......they start looking trashy......just my opinion.

I can certainly see your point. Like I said I think if done tastefully,or what I mean is in a "minimalist" way,I like it. But that being said the 3K would go for the stocking of these rifles.

I really like the floorplate shown. I will probably have that done at the least.

FAST996 - No problem. The work was done about ten or eleven years ago and I think the cost was in the $2,000 plus range. The front sight ramp and the floor plate are also engraved. As I say, I like it, but I also have nothing against make up on a beautiful woman.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
FAST996 - No problem. The work was done about ten or eleven years ago and I think the cost was in the $2,000 plus range. The front sight ramp and the floor plate are also engraved. As I say, I like it, but I also have nothing against make up on a beautiful woman.

Thanks Mike, I'm in the ballpark!

By minimalist I mean something like this JMHO.







I like the knurl? work also. I think Duane Wiebe does something similar.

Engraving is not cheap and $1,500 (depending on who does the work) may not get you much as you may think...

Here are a couple pictures of mine, scroll down to the bolt rifle in the white

http://www.martiniandhagngunma...rsale_engravings.htm

2nd link is color cased and blued finished rifle

http://www.granitemountainarms.com/martini.html

quote:

Originally posted by jjs:
Engraving is not cheap and $1,500 (depending on who does the work) may not get you much as you may think...

Here are a couple pictures of mine, scroll down to the bolt rifle in the white

http://www.martiniandhagngunma...rsale_engravings.htm

2nd link is color cased and blued finished rifle

http://www.granitemountainarms.com/martini.html

The Reno show should be interesting.....maybe I'll be the only one in the room.....on the other hand it wouldn't be the first time I blew my budget..like the monkey said peeing in the cash register,it soon runs into money.

quote:

Originally posted by FAST996:

quote:

Originally posted by jjs:
Engraving is not cheap and $1,500 (depending on who does the work) may not get you much as you may think...

Here are a couple pictures of mine, scroll down to the bolt rifle in the white

http://www.martiniandhagngunma...rsale_engravings.htm

2nd link is color cased and blued finished rifle

http://www.granitemountainarms.com/martini.html

The Reno show should be interesting.....maybe I'll be the only one in the room.....on the other hand it wouldn't be the first time I blew my budget..like the monkey said peeing in the cash register,it soon runs into money.

I have blown a few budgets as well....for the most part it was well worth the extra dollars.

Given what you are building and the quality of the work, and money spent I would blow the budget as well...

Who is doing the stock/finishing work for you?

Engraving IS like makeup, it's EXACTLY like makeup!

If done well, it enhances the natural beauty.
If done poorly, it makes even a beauty look ugly.

My 2 favorite rifles are both engraved, one with scroll & gold border and the other with scroll & game scene. The (conservative) engraving is a major reason why these are my favorites, and I plan to have more engraving done on future fifles.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by jjs:

quote:

Originally posted by FAST996:

quote:

Originally posted by jjs:
Engraving is not cheap and $1,500 (depending on who does the work) may not get you much as you may think...

Here are a couple pictures of mine, scroll down to the bolt rifle in the white

http://www.martiniandhagngunma...rsale_engravings.htm

2nd link is color cased and blued finished rifle

http://www.granitemountainarms.com/martini.html

The Reno show should be interesting.....maybe I'll be the only one in the room.....on the other hand it wouldn't be the first time I blew my budget..like the monkey said peeing in the cash register,it soon runs into money.

I have blown a few budgets as well....for the most part it was well worth the extra dollars.

Given what you are building and the quality of the work, and money spent I would blow the budget as well...

Who is doing the stock/finishing work for you?

I have somebody that has done work for me in the past and is reasonable and very qualified,but that final decision is still up in the air.

Time is always of the essence,but I have always went for the best value and it has always paid off for me. I just don't jump and throw money at my projects,never have never will. That way I still enjoy seeing my projects done.

$1500 would dress up each action quite nicely but I'm afraid the worst thing you could put on those actions would be a $1500 game scene.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
$1500 would dress up each action quite nicely but I'm afraid the worst thing you could put on those actions would be a $1500 game scene.

Interesting....meaning a $1500 game scene would look cheap or owned by a 2 bit pimp?

Thanks for the opinion Forrest....

I talked to a couple of engravers that I like so far,one was not close to my budget....that's ok though.

I did come across some fine english scroll that I like. Anyway the learning curve will flatten out once I sit down with some engravers in January.



I really like this rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by FAST996:

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
$1500 would dress up each action quite nicely but I'm afraid the worst thing you could put on those actions would be a $1500 game scene.

Interesting....meaning a $1500 game scene would look cheap or owned by a 2 bit pimp?

Meaning a game scene requires artistic expertise an order of magnitude greater than most other engraving. Anyone capable of executing a GOOD game scene is usually gonna charge a lot more than $1500 for the entire job, and remember that a game scene implies, indeed it almost REQUIRES other ancillary emgraving.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Steele:

quote:

Originally posted by FAST996:

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
$1500 would dress up each action quite nicely but I'm afraid the worst thing you could put on those actions would be a $1500 game scene.

Interesting....meaning a $1500 game scene would look cheap or owned by a 2 bit pimp?

Meaning a game scene requires artistic expertise an order of magnitude greater than most other engraving. Anyone capable of executing a GOOD game scene is usually gonna charge a lot more than $1500 for the entire job, and remember that a game scene implies, indeed it almost REQUIRES other ancillary emgraving.
Regards, Joe

Point well taken and agree.

I recently had my workhorse Pre War .270 refinished by Aaron Little, who ironed out the dings, gouges and scratches & had the leather recoil pad pulled and replaced with some heel-toe plates made by Bailey Bradshaw who also did some engraving.

Bailey's engraving is flawless and Aaron's refinish on the stock is better than the original, by a country mile. I was absolutely floored and taken aback by their work. I haven't had the time to take some pics of the finished rifle between daylight savings and hunting season just haven't had the ideal sunlight to take the pics that would properly reflect their handiwork.

All I have are some iPhone pics they sent me of the bottom metal taken at their shop. To say the work is outstanding would way too be humble a compliment to Aaron and Bailey.

Words just can't even begin to do justice to their efforts.

I do plan on taking some pics and starting a thread. Here's some pics of the engraving.

This rifle has always "called to me"

Engraving by Roger Kehr, AKA Scrollcutter. Understated elegance!

Von Gruff:

It may call to you, but the engraving quality is mediocre, at best. However, I like the minimalist design and the layout.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Von Gruff:

It may call to you, but the engraving quality is mediocre, at best.

I respectfully disagree. It may not be Lynton McKenzie but IMO it's fine as-is. No, I personally don't like his choice of shading in this particular motif, but that's just personal taste. Similarly, I prefer smaller tighter scroll but again that's a personal thing.

I'd be proud to own that rifle.
Regards, Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
Von Gruff:

It may call to you, but the engraving quality is mediocre, at best. However, I like the minimalist design and the layout.

Gatogordo,

Do you see anything posted here that you like?

I've said I'll never have a rifle with a game scene on it simply because I;d likely never want to pay what a good one costs...and by good I mean Winston Churchill good...

Poor perspectives, bug eyes, smiles on animals, cartoons...just don't float my boat and would rather have none than any...

I am a fan of florentining on flat ribs, but that's not really this type of engraving.

Rusty, nice rifle and about as much engraving as I like, classy.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
I've said I'll never have a rifle with a game scene on it simply because I;d likely never want to pay what a good one costs...and by good I mean Winston Churchill good...

Poor perspectives, bug eyes, smiles on animals, cartoons...just don't float my boat and would rather have none than any...

I am a fan of florentining on flat ribs, but that's not really this type of engraving.

Rusty, nice rifle and about as much engraving as I like, classy.

There's only one engraver that I would want to do a scene and I asked him for a estimate,waiting for the bad news.

I also found someone else I like and is within my budget for scroll work.

FWIW I've always liked the work of Ken Hurst, especially his bulino scenes done in recent years. He's old & decrepit now (grin) but he still does a little work sometimes and he tries not to charge an arm & a leg, actually pretty reasonable compared to lots of others.
Regards, Joe

This might be a dangerous game to buy if the lioness finds it

boomy, but why it the right boob pointed right at me? Is it some sort of tropism?

Gun porn?? Foofoo Mauser extrodinare

Classy gentleman's gun?
This one looks lively and well balanced.
I have a poor mans engraving of just scratches and dings

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Steele:
FWIW I've always liked the work of Ken Hurst, especially his bulino scenes done in recent years. He's old & decrepit now (grin) but he still does a little work sometimes and he tries not to charge an arm & a leg, actually pretty reasonable compared to lots of others.
Regards, Joe

Ken does very nice work.

I do like Ken Hurst, but he is getting awfully slow. Unfortunately all of us do when we get older. Joe Seeley will do my 416 Rigby when James Anderson has the metalwork done. I do like nice scroll and am not enamored with game scenes.

quote:

Originally posted by butchlambert:
I do like Ken Hurst, but he is getting awfully slow. Unfortunately all of us do when we get older. Joe Seeley will do my 416 Rigby when James Anderson has the metalwork done. I do like nice scroll and am not enamored with game scenes.

Butch,it's a beauty!

There is some beautiful work shown here but I have to wonder how many days afield any of them will actually experience on hunts for DG ?

I suppose if I were to have any of my DG rifles engraved - especially on a budget - I would start with simple scrolls surrounding lettering stating blood type and next of kin

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
I've said I'll never have a rifle with a game scene on it simply because I;d likely never want to pay what a good one costs...and by good I mean Winston Churchill good...

Well I received a email from the engraver that would do my bull elephant and white rhino in the veldt game scene. He is better than Churchill. I am in his que for the 3rd quarter of 2013. This of course would blow the budget to hell,but would make these rifles very special.....I'll have to think about this.

btw talked to Pete Mazur about rust bluing these when they get that far a long. A wealth of information. He's in Grass Valley,not far from me,will work out fine.

For engraving, you might want to talk with Charles Lee in Ione, California. Not too far from you so you can visit. Charles is an ex-Purdy engraver, is very reasonable and fast for an engraver, and his work is excellent.

quote:

Originally posted by loud-n-boomer:
For engraving, you might want to talk with Charles Lee in Ione, California. Not too far from you so you can visit. Charles is an ex-Purdy engraver, is very reasonable and fast for an engraver, and his work is excellent.

Yes, Charles is only 2+ hours from me and is top notch.

Phil.
Mine is a 6.5X47Lapua and is a deer rifle. It will not be for buffalo. I do shoot all my rifles.
Maybe I need to hunt with my Remington 30 Express in 30-06 and just trash the others.
I have come to the opinion that my rifles will be for me and me only. If some become safe queens, so be it if I am happy with that. We all have rifles for different reasons at least I do.

quote:

He is better than Churchill.

That's a very short list... good luck with it and well..if you're gonna blow your budget...might as well do it proper!