Got this in the mail today about the Vickers I finished. I did not take BEFORE or AFTER pictures, it was nickel plated. I am trying to get some good after pictures from the owner. Thanks to Vlim for all this help. Excerpt from my client follows.
"Well, I came home late tonight to find your package waiting for me... and I have been wiping the saliva off for the past two hours!
I can hardly believe how elegant it looks, compared to the nickel before which I always thought looked cheap. The engraver really did a top notch job on the stampings too. To be perfectly honest I was a teensy bit scared by the idea of a coarse sandblasted look, but I put my faith in your experience and you really nailed the perfect finish! I have been looking again at the example of the other Vickers I asked you to emulate and I do not think anyone could tell the difference. Tremendous work.
I will be sending Vlim some pics when I get my camera battery charged. I tried using my phone but the results didn't do the gun justice.
My sincerest congratulations on being a master of your craft. You have turned an eyesore into the crown jewel of my collection. For the past ten years since I bought it, I wanted to have this gun restored by you, and it was well worth the wait. I am extremely satisfied."
Special thanks to Brian Powley of Brian Powley Engravers for cleaning up those little Crown over Vs and the Wilhemina marking.
The only BEFORE picture I have of this gun. I am in hopes GT makes a great magazine for it and Hugh gets a chance to clean up the coarse grips (correct for this variation). This variation has a more porous matte finish.
