Engraving question

[Dean Romig]

I have often wondered the same thing. I have had guns that I would have liked to rub india ink into the engraving on a gun with no remaining case color - but I didn't . . . but who's to say what some former owner might have done in an attempt to enhance the engraving. I don't know what might have been done originally but the black in some engraving is most certainly a hardened mixture of grime and oil.

[Chris T.]

It could be the remnants of some stock finish, or someting put on to protect the case colors like tru-oil. I once heard the Parker used to put a thin coat of stock finish on the action to help the colors wear, I don't know if it is true or not.