Engraving Ideas for 1885 High Wall...

[Old No7]

Dang!! I put a huge ding and scratch into my Winchester/Miroku .38-55 High Wall a few years ago when a punch slipped while replacing a broken sear spring... Gosh dang it...

So maybe that's why it's been sitting in the very back of the safe for over 7 years, since I moved into this new house. Anyway, since this rifle does have a lever, I'll be keeping it in my collection. But it's time that I've got to do something about the damage...

I've tried cold blue, even Brownell's Oxpho Blue, and it just won't take or hide it... But I'm told that I've earned a Christmas Bonus, so now I'm thinking of having some modest engraving done to try and "hide" the ding and scratch. Since locksmithing has been my family's vocation for well over 125 years, although now I only work at it on the side, I figured that I'd work some "keys" into the pattern.

First off, here's the damage that was done...

Winch High Wall 38-55 (6) (Medium).jpg

I've spent hours looking at images of high & low wall, single shots and rifle engraving online, and this is what I came up with for an idea. I know that some others would want game animals inserted, or something else -- and I thought about the caliber numerals, ".38-55" -- but for sure, I wouldn't want to put my initials into the opening, yet I'm thinking that "something" needs to be put in the center to balance out the pattern. So here's a rough draft of the pattern for the scrolls on the flat-sided receiver, with the keys motif added. There are 4 keys because my late father -- who loved single shot rifles -- had 4 sons, and we each got a High Wall after he passed... (The one I got was one-digit different than this one, also in .38-55, but I traded that off for a Low Wall in 17 HMR to use for fox and small game.)

High Wall Engraving - Keys final (Medium).jpg

On a much better day, here she is at the range -- along with the palm rest I'd added...

Winch High Wall 38-55 (1) (Medium).jpg

Curious about your thoughts on this, thanks.

Old No7

[Sixgun]

#7,
Thoughts?....nothing beats the thoughts that YOU have in mind. If your going to spend the big bucks, it would make sense to have something engraved that would appeal to a future buyer...this way you are not "spending money", but "investing money".

I've bought several very nice condition Winchesters for about half of what they were worth because someone engraved something personal on the receiver...which means nothing to a future buyer.

But....that's your call.......I've always liked the original Winchester engraving style. This one was factory engraved on a 1892 half mag saddle ring carbine back in 1912.

Doug Turnbull has all of the original designs ....and.....he has the engraver who can do it.----6

By the way, I could fix that scratch and it would take a guy with a magnifier to detect it....most any decent Smith could fix that without a total reblue.

[Bill in Oregon]

Goodness gracious, a .38-55 High Wall with palm rest and everything? Let Sixgun fix that owie and get it to the range, man!

[Old No7]

Let Sixgun fix that owie and get it to the range, man!

PM Message sent to Sixgun.

Old No7

[Pete44ru]

But I'm told that I've earned a Christmas Bonus, so now I'm thinking of having some modest engraving done to try and "hide" the ding and scratch. Since locksmithing has been my family's vocation for well over 125 years, although now I only work at it on the side, I figured that I'd work some "keys" into the pattern.


High Wall Engraving - Keys final (Medium).jpg

Looks good - Remember, accuracy is key......


.

[marlinman93]

You need a Swiss buttplate to put on that gun when using the palm rest! It will really help the offhand shooting! I think I've got a couple investment cast off the original Winchester small Swiss.

[44shooter]

I would file and sand it smooth and then blue it. It has too be done to engrave it any way

[marlinman93]

I would file and sand it smooth and then blue it. It has too be done to engrave it any way

But you want to wait on bluing until after it's engraved!

[44shooter]

[quote=44shooter post_id=805958 time=<a href="tel:1512848524">1512848524</a> user_id=5866]
I would file and sand it smooth and then blue it. It has too be done to engrave it any way

But you want to wait on bluing until after it's engraved!
[/quote]

Of course. I wouldn't bother with engraving.

[Blaine]

Well, you've ruined it for any further, and accurate use. But, because I like you, I'll take it off your hands for a hundred bucks....don't thank me.

[Plottman]

I like the keys, keep it for the family, if it was mine, as soon as I got it back I would scratch it some where else, l justify my scratches as character.