Repairing a mistake, advise needed

[Keats]

2/8/14 Sat
I need some good advise about repairing a mistake.

First of all, I'm not an engraver. I searched and searched the web and found this forum and I believe that the members here are the folks I should be asking.

My son was just promoted to Chief Master Sergeant USAF, and I bought a new rifle as a promotion gift for him and then I had it engraved with his name, his new rank and the date.

I had the Receiver Cover for the Henry rifle personally engraved by the Henry factory and it took a 79 days to get it back from them due to the extreme winter weather on the East coast. They offer this cover @ their web site for the Henry Golden Boy .22 rifle.

The work looks beautiful and the lettering and scroll work is crisp and I'm happy with the results.

The bottom line of the engraving reads March 7th 2013. It should read 2014. I filled out the order form on line back in November of 2013 and by force of habit, I simply wrote 2013 on the form.

This is a mistake that I made when placing the order and Henry Repeating Arms filled my order exactly the way I requested it.

So now I've reached a dead line (as you can see by the correct date above) and I would like to get this mistake repaired or changed to read a 4 instead of a 3.

The engraving is very shallow and it's engraved in bright shiny brass and the engraving is filled in with black paint (?) to make it stand out against the brass.

I need a reputable craftsman here in the Phoenix Arizona area that might be able to correct this error for me.

So, do I go to a place that does trophy's or perhaps a jewelry store or where?
Do I try to have the numbers changed or must I simply have the entire date line buffed out?

I'm open to any and all suggestions. There is not enough time to return it to Henry and get it back in time for the promotion banquet in Colorado. I need a solution here in Arizona.

Please help..

Thanks,
Keats

 

[Ron Spokovich]

Depending upon the "engraving" method, you may be able to get it done by a competent worker. If it's done with diamond drag, it MAY be able to be burnished closed (the mistake), after all paint is removed from the area, the numeral redone, and repainted. If actually "cut", it may be possible to actually lay in a brass wire with a microtorch, after having done the previous paint removal, hand finish the area, cut the proper numeral, hand finish a little more, repaint, and then it's done. A competent person would need to do this, and this is where your quick homework comes in. I've been in aerospace and "classified" concerns where this kind of micro work is done routinely, and it's just a matter of finding the right person. Good luck!

 

[Ron Spokovich]

My fault for not mentioning it, but I wouldn't take your item to any machine shop in your area, of which there used to be about 150 at one time, nor would I venture forth to some aerospace concern. The guy who'd you need to contact would be a "manufacturing jeweler", of which a friend of mine is but doesn't have the time to undertake your task. The manufacturing jeweler is a "hands on" guy, who likely is keen on this kind of repair. Whether he has an engraver in-house is another matter. Once the repair is done. I think you might be able to find an engraver, not the shopping mall trinket shop type, who could recut the numeral and elsewise refinish. Again, good luck!

 

[fegarex]

You are in trouble... The Henry Golden Boy is not actually brass but has a brass colored clear coat. Any alterations will ruin the finish and look like heck. Your best bet is to plead with Henry and hope they can rush a new one to you. They are a nice company to deal with so I would call them.

 

[Dave London]

Dittos what Rex said
Or leave it alone and it can become a family legend.
Also thanks for his service



USAF 66-70

 

[BrianPowley]

Agree with Rex.......It's brass plating over base metal. Sorry about your circumstance.

 

[Dulltool]

I would leave it... and just remind your son that his dad is only human.

 

[monk]

i'm thinking a "yag" laser was probably used to embellish this gun. a co2 laser wont do a thing to a surface like this. unless you can talk personally with the guy or gal that did the marking on the gun, i fear they are the only ones that could bring joy to the situation. jm2cw an explanation: co2 lasers use a wavelength that simply bounces or reflects off the metal surface. the yag laser emits a wavelength of light the chews or penetrates into the metal, creating the marking. a co2 can embellish metals using an acid compound called cermark. the resulting marking is a permanent black color, totally lacking in depth. hope this info is of use.

 

[dlilazteca]

Why Don't you post high definition pictures?

Carlos De La O III

 

[monk]

yes. a good hi-res closeup or 2 would go a long way to determine what method was used on your gun.

 

[Dani Girl]

Yes, no better place to come for a request like that... pictures will definately help.