20May/16

Smith & Wesson Model 36 engraving

This Smith & Wesson Model 36 revolver has been my main focus for past few months. The project got a start couple of years ago when I disassebled it and cleaned up, but until now I didn’t have time to actually engrave it. Well, finally it happened and here it is in all its glory. Grips and box were also made for it.

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 36

09Mar/16

Engraved iPhones

In the past few months I’ve been making and engraving a few very exclusive and high end custom iPhone backplates and casings. Their final destination was in Qatar.

Starting off with a simpler ones, here are two engraved models, where the engraving was done directly on the case

Engraved iPhone 6

Engraved iPhone 6

Engraved iPhone 6

Engraved iPhone 6

A bit more interesting model is the iPhone 6 with custom backplate. The backplate frame was CNC milled from silver sheet, engraved and plated with 24K gold. The corner triangles are also from silver sheet. Inside rhombus features black and white Mother of Pearl mosaic. This was a very interesting project, because I got to do all the 3D modelling work for CNC, milling and engraving. Basically from start to finish, except the gold plating. It’s so cool to see the final result at the end after many-many days of work.

Engraved iPhone 6

Engraved iPhone 6 with silver corners and Mother of Pearl mosaic

Engraved iPhone 6 with silver corners and Mother of Pearl mosaic

Engraved iPhone 6 with silver corners and Mother of Pearl mosaic

The prettiest one, I think, is this one with bulino engraved Arabian horse and gyrfalcon corners. Bottom corners feature Qatar skyline. As this was made exclusively for Qatar, then then center round piece has their logo and outside rectangle has Islamic pattern.

Engraved iPhone 6 with silver corners and Mother of Pearl mosaic. Arabian horse and falcon engravings

iPhone 6 with silver corners and Mother of Pearl mosaic

As always, do follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I post more frequent updates there.

19Jan/16

Geckota “K3” watch Gothic themed engraving

Here is yet another very interesting watch engraving I had a chance to do.

The watch is from Geckota and model is stainless “K3”. Engraving theme is Gothic architecture and parts of the design are from actual buildings that have emotional significance to the watch owner. Here I had also a chance to do little bits of 24K gold inlay to spice up the design a little.

Hand engraved Geckota K3

Hand engraved Geckota K3

Engraved Geckota K3

Engraved Geckota K3

Engraved Geckota K3 watch

Engraved Geckota K3 watch

08Jan/16

Engraved Halios “Tropik B” watch

Very interesting watches and engraving themes have come across my table. This one is no exception.

The watch is Halios “Tropik B” in bronze and the engraving theme is Pacific Northwest Coast native art. Think Tlingit, Tsimshian etc. It took me quite a while to get accommodated with the style and its composition rules, looked through quite a few books and videos. It was completely different and new to me, but also very interesting. And challenging. I like challenges.

Here’s the result.

Engraved Halios Tropik B watch

Engraved Halios Tropik B watch

Viljo Marrandi hand engraved watch

Engraved Halios watch

Hand engraved Halios Tropik B

Hand engraved Halios Tropik B

25Dec/15

Engraved Sig Sauer P226

Continuing from the previous post about the engraving process of the Sig Sauer P226 S, here is the finished gun in all its glory.

Left side view of engraved Sig Sauer P226

Left side view of engraved Sig Sauer P226

Right side view of hand engraved Sig Sauer P226

Right side view of hand engraved Sig Sauer P226

Top view of the hand engraved Sig Sauer P226 slide

Top view of the engraved slide

Engraved gold skull on Sig Sauer P226

Gold skull close-up

Gold inlaid and engraved arm on Sig Sauer P226

Close-up view of arm engraving

Close up of gold inlaid cobra on Sig Sauer slide

Cobra engraving close-up

Gold inlaid and engraved snake on Sig Sauer P226 frame

Close-up view of the slide

Back view of frame and slide engraving on Sig Sauer P226

Back view of frame and slide engraving

Sig in a box

Sig in a box

Last, but not least – photo shoot with model Grete Roos

Sexy model holding Sig Sauer P226 and X-Five

Two Sig Sauers!

Sexy model holding hand engraved Sig Sauer P226

Hair by Alice Aleksandridi, make-up by Anna-Maria Kalvi,  style Keithy Kuuspu.

24Dec/15

Engraving process of Sig Sauer P226

Sig Sauer P226 engraving is my biggest project to date. Engraving process itself took around 320 hours and extra 80 hours was spend later on new grips and box.

In this post I’ll show the progress steps and next post will feature the completed gun and also a photo shoot results with a model.

First step was to do 24K gold inlay borders on the frame and slide.

Gold inlaid into Sig Sauer frame and slide

Gold inlaid into frame and slide

When borders are inlaid and scrollwork contours engraved, then the main gold inlays are done. Here you can see the pocket for skull inlay is prepared – first a pocket is cut and cleaned out, then teeth are risen to hold the gold wire.

Sig Sauer P226 gold inlay

Gold inlay process

Closer view of the gold inlay

Gold inlay in Sig Sauer P226

Gold inlay progress

Gold wire is hammered in, looks very rough indeed.

Gold is inlaid into Sig Sauer slide

Gold wire is inlaid

Now the gold is stoned flush with surrounding metal and taken to final finish.

Gold inlay is smoothed

Gold inlay is smoothed out

Once the gold is looking good, shading can be done on the surrounding scrollwork and on the gold as well.

Here’s the workshop view during skull engraving, notice the several skull references to get shading correct.

Engraving station view

Engraving station view

Here is the final result:

Engraved gold skull on Sig Sauer P226

Gold skull shaded

Here’s the same process shown for the skeleton arm inlay and shading on the front of the slide.

Arm pocket prepared and inlay started

Arm pocket prepared and inlay started

Arm gold inlay prepared

Arm inlay prepared

Arm and scrollwork shaded

Arm and scrollwork shaded

Now it is starting to look like something!

Right side of the Sig Sauer P226 engraving

Right side view of the engraving

Final results can be seen on Engraved Sig Sauer P226 post.