Changing the caliber marking

[grandpa]

I'm doing a caliber conversion on a old model Blackhawk, doing some of the work myself with help from a local machinist. How do real gunsmiths change the caliber marking on the frame? Do they TIG weld a bead on top of the old number then file/polish it down before adding the new number? Is EDM the best way to do the new marking? Are there other ways to do this? I appreciate any suggestions.

[Professor]

Several use acid etch templates

[zeus]

Most polish it off and then use a laser or electro etch template

[potatojudge]

As above. I think early Horvath guns he skim milled the number and stamped or etched (can't recall).

Then there's JRH who does hand engraving of at least some of the changes.

Etching can look very clean, in the case of Bowen, or pretty sloppy in the case of other gunsmiths known for their extensive etching.

[aware]

I believe some mill it out then, on stainless guns, will do some stainless welding to fill in the area and re-stamp.

[grandpa]

I've never understood why Ruger puts the caliber marking on the frame and not on the barrel like most of the other makers do. Maybe I'll get an engraver to cover the old marking with some kind of pattern and then mark the caliber on the barrel.

[gnappi]

I saw one that the smith milled in the frame a shallow rectangular depression where the original caliber was then laser etched the new caliber in the depression. I thought it looked pretty good.

[aciera]

Aug 28, 2024 14:50:50 GMT -5 gnappi said:

I saw one that the smith milled in the frame a shallow rectangular depression where the original caliber was then laser etched the new caliber in the depression. I thought it looked pretty good.

Or milled and then take it to a trophy shop for engraving