[Sander]

Hi all,

Does anyone know about what year machine-engraved receivers became common on Italian over-unders?

I have a Franchi Peregrine from the late 70s and I know it was not a high-priced gun, then or now. However, the gun has uncommonly good wood, checkering, and overall finish. All the metal parts (receiver, top lever, safety) are engraved.

Now I just assumed that it was done by a machine, but it's nice to pretend it was chiseled by a human being

Would machine-engraving have been common in the late seventies? Is it possible (through little clues) to tell machine-engraving from human just by looking at it (through inexperienced eyes like mine?)

thanks

 

[shotgunworld]

Bumped because I'm curious about the answer too.
regards,
Jay Gentry
Shotgunworld.com

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I've been lurking around this forum for several weeks. I really like this place, lots of good info and nice people.

I'll take a swipe at this. Machine engraving has been around and common for a very long time. I think Colt's "Roll Engraving" on the Colt's Navy revolver was the first common mass produced style in this country that I know of. (If this is wrong, please correct me I'd would like to know). Plus the use of machine Pantographs was also common in the mid to late 1800's. The Europeans didn't seem to go in for that stuff like we did until recently, say the last 75-100 years or so. and then generally for guns for export primarily it seems. Different tastes I guess.

Today, (since WW2 I'd guess), the vast majority of engraving done on anything is machine made. Economics dictates this. Technics used to today to "engrave" are casting the design during manufacture of the part, (a very cheap and tacky method. It is very wide and fuzzy looking. I've got a Stoeger Condor O/U with an investment cast reciever done this way). Stamping the part, (looks better, sharper image, but often looks incomplete). Or CNCing (best method, very sharp looking, but just a bit too "perfect"). The hand engraved guns that I've been fortunate to touch (they can be counted on one hand with fingers left over, admittedly) showed the engraving to be very sharp and cut slightly deeper than machine work. Though the depth appeared to vary slightly through the work as could be expected. Plus the design was far more complex and in places that would be difficult to get to than machines and fixturing would be able to.

So to answer your question about your gun, after all that, I'd say that unless there is documentation with the gun, (papers or the gun is signed by the artist) it's machined engraving.

Hope this helps,
Dale

 

[Sander]

Dale, thanks for the great info! - and welcome to the Forum