metal finishing

It would be helpful for us who need to send our work out for finishing if there was a list of trusted metal and stock finishers. I think that an archive of those professionals would be helpful.

Such a database, set up as a sticky, is a great idea. In the meantime you could use the search function and contact the metal finishers most often mentioned by engravers whose work you admire.

Three of the best metal finishers I know of are John Gillette at Classic Guns of Crete, Illinois, 708-367-1620, a couple of guys in my local gun club whose business name escapes me at the moment (I will edit this post next week with their vitals) and, of course, the famous Doug Turnbull, whom most of you know. I believe Mahovsky applied a metalife plating onto Mike Dubber's Model 94 that brought $5,100 at the FEGA auction when he donated it.

Be very careful about trusting your many hours of hard work to any gunsmith. I have been fortunate in my choices, but Bert can tell you a real horror story if he feels like talking about it.

www.mahovskysmetalife.com
Nickel and Metalife finishes, excellent work and prices. Will not ruin your work. YMMV

I do my own metal prep, and have Doug Turnbull do the bluing.