polish before engraving

[tdelewis]

I know the level of polish you put on a firearm before engraving can be a matter of taste. The other day I suggested a finish of 320 grit for final finish. The reason I suggested this is because I was under the impression that the manufactures use 320 grit for final polish. I know that this is not always true, as the older S&W had a high polished blue finish. Is this corrector or am I wrong? What is the final polish that most of you are using?

 

[JJ Roberts]

My final polish is 400 grit with wet & dry automotive paper no buffing need to keep all edges sharp and not round and no dishing out of screw and pin holes if you want a final high polish go to 600 grit and lightly buff with Brownell's 555 polish. J.J.

 

[S&w right]

I have blued guns for over 30 years. Your end result is only as good as your polish. While a s&w might stop at 400-600. A colt python will be 1500.
I’m a novice at engraving but I like no less than 800 grit.
As Sam says, enjoy the journey

 

[tdelewis]

I'm curious about comes out of the factories on blued guns?

 

[Crazy Horse]

A couple of years ago I sent the barrels of my 16 gauge Sterlingworth to J.J. Roberts to be re-blued. I told him that I did not want a high polish, as this is a hunting firearm and not a closet queen.

A couple of weeks later they were returned to me with a wonderful dull finish. Nicely blued and exactly what I wanted. I don't know what grit sand paper he used but he did a really good job.
Thanks J.J.