Make Your Handgun Unique with Custom Finish and Engraving

Written By Jeff "Tank" Hoover

2021

Customized guns have a look and feel all their own.

We all have favorite guns we carry and shoot, thinking of them more as well-worn friends than tools. Even though we try taking meticulous care of our guns, over the years, their shine and luster eventually fade away — much to our dismay. Some may have even been abused, and we regret prior foolishness with them. Usually, I become more attached to guns with “honest wear” characteristics.

However, every now and then, it’s nice giving your special shooter a makeover of sorts, no matter the reason for their current condition.

Here’s Tank’s Ruger SBH with its Barranti Leather Border
Lawman shuck and a few accoutrements.

Like New by You

Customizing your favorite shooters provides them with a second life, while absolutely making them more valuable — to everyone! Besides, with all this post pandemic craziness going on, try finding any decent gun out in the real world. And if you actually do happen to find a gun to your liking, it’s so overpriced, you’re insulted by the shop selling it! These are indeed the worst of times for buying a new gun.

However, with this cause and effect, now is the best of time for customizing that old shooter of yours. And it’s better than a new gun, because you’re calling the shots, making all the decisions on what you want your finished gun to look like. How cool is that?

You can satisfy the pangs of getting a new gun by customizing one of your favorites! Besides, you’ve already established a special connection to your gun. Empower yourself! Design your gun the way you want it! Make it a one-of-a-kind, personalized shooter! Just … For … You! Because you deserve it!

Make your old guns appear brand new with Precision Custom Guns!

A Super SBH

I have an old Ruger 4 5/8″ stainless Super Blackhawk I’ve carried for years as a back-up while hunting, woods loafing, or to keep in the truck, for those “just in case” situations. Ken Kelly of Mag-na-port tamed it down by porting it. Being stainless kept it in pretty good shape, with minimal wiping down. Being such a loyal companion made it deserving of a special makeover. Ken told me I should have it laser engraved, to really make it extra special.

He explained how laser engraving is cheaper than hand engraving. Ken’s words made sense to me, and I had it done by the folks at Precision Custom Guns LLC. I made the call and spoke with Mark. He explained in detail all the services they provide. He was so enthusiastic and convincing of their services, I end up sending him my parkerized Springfield Armory 1911, which also needed some love and attention. A plan was established, and the guns were shipped via my FFL to Precision Custom Guns. Now all I had to do was wait.

Who can tell the difference between laser engraving and hand-cut engraving?
That’s a Tyler Gun Works Damascus knife with mastodon scales next to Tank’s SBH.

The 1911 Plan

Mark stripped the Springfield Armory 1911 of its parkerized finish and then polished out all machine/tool marks and buffed it out. He then blasted with 80-120 grit glass beads, preparing it for the hard-chrome finish. After polishing, the 1911’s lines stayed straight, while the edges maintained original sharpness.

Once chromed, Romae, Mark’s wife, laser engraved it with nice scroll accents. Then, the gun was given a final buff. Hard chrome has a Rockwell hardness of 70Rc, compared to nickel, which has only 40Rc.

Besides adding protection and fluid movement to the 1911, the brushed hard chrome gave the old, parkerized 1911 the looks and feel of a truly custom gun. The finish is fantastically flawless and the tastefully applied laser engraving gives it just enough pizazz to make it even more eye appealing.

The factory stocks were swapped with some of the most beautiful, crosscut mastodon molar in the prettiest blue you ever saw. Scott Kolar, of SK Grips, has a wonderful selection of mastodon ivory and molar to choose from. The ivory and molar are stabilized, and Scott adds a black fiber backing to the molar, to prevent cracking from recoil.

You’ll never notice the backing once the stocks are bolted onto your gun. Scott states the different color ivory and molar are caused by the absorption of different minerals in the soil. Scott sends the slabs mounted on a piece of plexiglass, keeping them from warping and offering more protection during transit. As you can see, they’re gorgeous, adding beauty to the whole gun.

The Milt Sparks Versa Max-2 is one fine IWB rig!

Milt Sparks Leather

You can’t gussy-up a new shooter without getting new handgun hide for it. For this purpose, I went with Milt Sparks, going with two traditional rigs, the Versa Max 2, an IWB rig and a Bruce Nelson 55BN, an OWB design, and favorite of mine. The VM-2 has a metal reinforced mouth, so holstering is easy, and the protective back flap shields you from any possible gouging from safeties or sharp edges. Offset, non-pivoting loops ensure gun butt won’t shift. Horsehide construction on the side body adds protection from moisture.

The 55BN is a classic Milt Sparks OWB holster designed for range work and everyday carry. Time-tested features include metal reinforced mouth, sewn-in sight rails and detail molded to specific firearm. Characterized by a combination belt tunnel/punched rear loop allows the 55BN to be cinched tight to your body. Two timeless rigs for the timeless 1911 — Packin’ Perfection!

Hard chromed, with new Mastodon molar stocks and some
tasteful laser-engraving makes an old beater look like new.

The Super Blackhawk Plan

The Ruger Super Blackhawk was slated for a tastefully done full-coverage laser engraving, but not to the extent of being gawdy, or unnatural looking. Romae knocked it out of the park with her chosen pattern design and coverage.

The stainless steel was first brush finished, giving Romae a blank canvas for her laser engraving. After the laser work is completed, she then inks the background, providing depth and a shadowy, three-dimensional look to the engraving. I love it!

I also had the hammer and trigger blackened with DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating to accent the inked laser engraving. It really adds a nice touch to the overall looks of the single-action shooter. Overall, the Super Blackhawk transformation turned out wonderfully!

Let Precision Custom Plating & Engraving work for you!

Magnificent Mastodon Ivory

For the Ruger SBH, I went traditional, with barked mastodon ivory, again using Scott Kolar, of SK Grips. As you can see, the fit is perfect to the grip-frame, and the color exceptional on the stocks. Scott used blued hardware he has specially made for a traditional look. He also offers case coloring for the stock screw, if you choose that look. Either way, sporting 10,000-year-old ivory on your shooter makes it look extraordinary, making people really take notice. Plus, it’s cool telling people you have mastodon ivory on your shooter.

Barranti Leather is pure perfection in its own right!

You can’t get any better than this for OWB carry!

Aw, Shucks

As I said, all spruced-up guns need new leather and for the Ruger SBH, I went with Barranti Leather. I’ve had my eye on Doc’s Border Lawman for some time. Built for revolvers, it’s based on a rig designed by famed Texas Ranger, Tol Dawson, for 1911s. Doc modified it for revolver use, passing on the traditional long line of basket-stamped, southwestern law enforcement rigs, as only he can make.

My gussied up Super Blackhawk proudly rides in its new shuck, amidst all the oohs and ahs it rightfully deserves. A forward cant provides fast drawing and its traditional one piece, folded over belt loop design is expertly stitched with heavy thread for a lifetime of use. When wearing a Barranti rig, everyone knows who made it.

Mastodon ivory has a way of making guns and knives look extra special indeed!

Original marks and lettering are left sharp and clean.

Just Do It

I know we all have favorite shooters deserving of some special treatment. Stop hemming and hawing around and investigate the possibility of sprucing up your gun. You can go traditional, making it look factory new, or go a little further by getting all the embellishments you really want. Check out the possibilities and options available on the various websites.

I guarantee you won’t be sorry once it’s done. In fact, you’ll question yourself of why you waited so long to take on such a project. That’s the magic of customizing a gun the way you want it! Your only regrets will be you didn’t do it sooner, after seeing how easy it really is!

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