Yet another fraud

Ron Wood · 10-05-2007, 01:34 PM

Pantograph 101

A pantograph is a rotary cutter used to make markings with some precision using a pattern or template. The rotary cutter is on one arm of a parallelogram frame and a stylus used to trace the pattern or template is on another. The arms of the frame can be adjusted to reduce or enlarge the engraving from the pattern. Using a template produces a very clean, even engraving as the stylus rides inside the grooves of the template (that is the way name badges are made using letter templates). When tracing a flat pattern, the resulting engraving is pretty much free-hand and depends on the skill and steadiness of the operator.

On some of the really cheap pantographs, a vibrating tool is used. When magnified, the zig-zag pattern of the vibrating engraving tip can be seen. On a professional pantograph, the engraving tool is a motor driven rotary cutter (somewhat like a woodworking router only on a much smaller scale). A magnified image will show the swirl marks of the cutter and the ends of the lines will be rounded. A stamped mark using a die will have much more squared ends on the lines.

10-05-2007, 01:34 PM	#11
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,051 Thanks: 1,123 Thanked 5,287 Times in 1,728 Posts	Pantograph 101 A pantograph is a rotary cutter used to make markings with some precision using a pattern or template. The rotary cutter is on one arm of a parallelogram frame and a stylus used to trace the pattern or template is on another. The arms of the frame can be adjusted to reduce or enlarge the engraving from the pattern. Using a template produces a very clean, even engraving as the stylus rides inside the grooves of the template (that is the way name badges are made using letter templates). When tracing a flat pattern, the resulting engraving is pretty much free-hand and depends on the skill and steadiness of the operator. On some of the really cheap pantographs, a vibrating tool is used. When magnified, the zig-zag pattern of the vibrating engraving tip can be seen. On a professional pantograph, the engraving tool is a motor driven rotary cutter (somewhat like a woodworking router only on a much smaller scale). A magnified image will show the swirl marks of the cutter and the ends of the lines will be rounded. A stamped mark using a die will have much more squared ends on the lines. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction