I know their will be various opinions on this but I'm having my Borchardt project engraved and was looking for ideas on what will show it off best after it's finished? If you know of a firm that does an excellent job of doing this, could you please include their name? Thanks

It really depends on just what type or style of engraving being done so if you can be more specific it might help. Inlays? Line engraved scenes? shallow or deep scroll? So called bulino scenes? Being a Borchardt I am assuming something period in style. Each might need/want a different type of finish.

Bob,
I would simply send it to Turnbull to have it case colored and then I'd rub off as much of the case coloring with Simichrome paste until you have the level of "coin finish" you want. Or you could do the more standard French Grey - Glenn could do that for you I think. But I like rubbing it down so that the finish is a little less uniform and a more worn appearance I guess. It is a bit softer than conventional French Grey.

Here is a sketch of the engraving pattern which is not showing some minor changes. I went with a mule's feet border around the large screw hole and a couple other places.

That will be nice! Will it be at Lodi by May?

For a flip side thought on Coin/French Grey. Since the design leaves a wide open center, it may look more complete if case color was left on. I think though, your fine shading and finer scroll fill will show better with out colors. Only thoughts, nice touch.

I love case hardened colors, but they do hide engraving. The French gray will really make the engraving show prominently. I still have my engraved receivers color cased, as I think it's more period looking, even if it doesn't jump out at you.

Case colored would be period...but Roger might like to remove the color off the scroll so it shows to advantage. I know there are other people who do nice color case work but Turnbull is the only one I am acquainted with so is the only one I can personally recommend.

Bob,
If all you are doing is a border then color case and leave it alone. The grey shows the engraving best but if only border there will be too much grey on the large unengraved surfaces. If you want to do grey we can talk and I will tell you how I did my Fraser. French Grey is incredibly easy to achieve. If you want we can do at my house. I'll be at the show on the 18th wandering around or PM me and I'll give you my phone number.
Glad you are having Roger do the work, he did my Fraser

Al Springer can match or beat Turnbull's case colors for a fraction of Turnbull's prices. This is one Al did for me last fall:

Lynn, I'll be at the show on Saturday. Roger said he may have the action there to show the progress. He figures it should be done the following week at Eagan. I have always wanted a rifle engraved by him as I think he is one of the best. I've always liked William Gamradt too and I know there are many other good engravers but I'm just not familiar with them.
Brent, I don't think we'll make a Lodi shoot until Sept.
I like the muted look of the first picture I'm going to attach as this probably just occurred with time and the second picture seems to have case color in the center areas but softened over the engraving. I take it that this aging is relatively easy to duplicate??

Bob, that is a bummer about not making Lodi. I worry about your priorities

Yes doing that more worn look is very easy to do with Simichrome paste on a glove. just go slow and stop often. It will take only a few minutes (or less). I used this on my engraved Lascaux cave-painting highwall.

How big a fraction? I was surprised to find Turnbull not all that expensive. He was the same price as the place in Illinois whose name I shall not utter again. AND he didn't screw it up.

John Gillette does really nice case colors as well. Well known in the trade.

I would strongly disagree.

I'll send you an email Brent. Rather Al quoted his own prices, if he wants to publicly.

Bob, I have shown these before and wanted to just show the gray again. The first gun was engraved by Roger and the second I engraved. The gray is surprisingly easy to do and provides excellent protection. The engraving on the Fraser just pops. Roger used it for 2 of the engraver showers in Nevada.
Fraser

My 1876 Sharps

Don't think there is anything nicer than engraving on faded casehardening as some of the pictures show.
Not sure of the fading if you burnish it down.
Chuck

Chuck "faded" case colors aren't faded. They are worn.

Roger Sampson, my engraver just sent me an update of how the Borchardt is coming along. Brent I think the colors in the top Borchardt pictures are faded. It's to uniform and the the rifle hasn't seen that much use to have been done by handling but I'd sure like to get that look.

You can achieve the look of the top rifle through careful rubbing after color hardening. I do not typically re-harden an action unless it is required. This gun needed the engraving picked up so it was annealed, re-cut, hardened, then aged gently.

I have a gun I've been thinking about redoing with some pretty upscale engraving. Problem is that is has already been recased once. Is there a big risk or problem in annealing it again, engraving it and then rehardening?

Every time you bring an action up to critical and then quench it you are taking a risk. How much more risk I can not say. I try to keep my re-hardening to a minimum. That said, I anneal and have actions re-hardened regularly to complete complex restoration work.
It can be done.

The engraving on the Borchardt is finished. Roger did a fantastic job. The picture is a little pixelated. My apology for that.

Very nice congrats. Roger had showed me your action at the March show. You have every right to be ecstatic. Color case that rifle!....would be my suggestion.

Bob,
Beautiful and tasteful coverage.

What is involved in the french gray finish ? Is it just CCH polished ?

Wish my pictures came out that nice Bob! Engraving is very nice!

My Borchardt project is finished. I put it together yesterday..Roger Sampson engraved, Turnbull colors, Borchardt Rifle Co barrel, wood, shaping and polish by myself.

Nice! Lets see some more of it...

Nice work, Bob.

Beautiful rifle, Bob.

Absolutely gorgeous! Very nicely done, and very classy looking! Great job!