Debate between rolled engraving and hand engraving

[joe breda]

Hmmmmmmm, I have heard that the Repro's were all rolled engraved and I also heard that there was some hand engraving.
I wanted to know exactly what, was, what. I have an electronic microscope so I checked the engraving out.

I believe there are a few ways to embellish firearm metals, and other metals for that matter.( Hand engrave by just pushing the graver, Hand engrave with graver and mallet assist, Hand engrave with pneumatic assist, CNC machined engraving, Rolled and/or Pressed engraving, acid-etchings, and probably there may be more methods to embellish the metal with figure ?

I believe with magnification one can make a reasonable explanation on just how the embellishment process was accomplished. Each process will have tell tale traces.

Now let’s weed the garden some and put into categories:
a. hand engravings (HE) “Using the skill of one’s free-hand only”
b. rolled and/or, pressed (R&P) “Mechanical”
c. CnC (CNC) “Programmed & machined”
d. Acid-Etched (A-E) “Could be by one’s free hand or an automated process”

Now let’s break down what each would expect to look like under magnification:
a. (HE) Un-even depths and widths, Chine/faceted, sharp/pointed tapering entries or exits, saw-tooth edges, or/and all of the above, lastly NO two 100% exactly alike.
b. (R&P) Relatively even depths with few anomalies, Relatively even widths, Fairly precise arks / lines / circles, and may see some wash-out areas due to misalignments, and possible misalignments around screws. Every embellishment is precisely the same, relative to itself.
c. (CNC) Circular Machine marks inside engraving, Fairly equal depths and widths, and every embellishment is precisely the same, relative to itself.
d. (A&E) Pitting and porous look to it. Every embellishment could be precisely the same, relative to itself, or, NO two could be alike.

To my pleasant surprise, I believe quite a bit of the Repro I have was hand engraved. (DHE 28 ga)
I come to this conclusion considering the characteristics described above.
Through my observation I believe:
1. All the game scenes were hand engraved (Dog grasses, birds brush)
2. All the borders were hand engraved
3. The 2 knuckles and their borders were hand engraved.
4. Most all of the scroll engraving is rolled (Except on the knuckles)... Also there is some hand engraving within the rolled engraving to enhance it !
5. The forearm metal was all hand engraved.
6. Butt plate metal was all hand engraved.
7. Scrolling on the Trigger guard was rolled with some hand engraving.
8. All the engraved screws were hand engraved

Attached is a pic of the close up of my DHE hand engraving and Rolled engraving, and some pics of an Original DHE engraving. The Original was quite worn so it is difficult in some places to see all of the anomalies described above pertaining to Hand Engraving.

This is only my opinion, and I may be wrong?
If I am wrong, where and why am I wrong?

Cheers,
JoeB