Thread: Barrel and serial number engraving Christchurch ?

I have always stamped barrels and it is easy to do neatly if you know how. First, you must have a set of good quality letter and number stamps. I find 2mm is about right for most jobs. Write out the desired text on a piece of paper, eg; .30-40 US GOVT. Next lay a straight strip of plastic insulation tape to form the bottom edge of the stamping. Finally start stamping from the right hand side (ie; right to left) using one short sharp hammer blow after carefully positioning the bottom of the stamp against the tape. Note that I recommend having several practice goes on a piece of mild steel to get used to the correct hammer blow and spacing. The spacing varies with individual letters and it is not based on the thickness of the stamp body (the letter I sits much closer to the previous letter than W as an example). By working from right to left you get the spacing more accurate (if you are left-handed it may work better the other way!). If you cock up a letter you can overstamp it with an O then an X then go over the area with a 3mm flat punch and carefully restore the surface by displacement before restamping. It is an invisible repair if done properly.