Am I the only one that feels this way? Laser etching vs. engraving

P

Playboypenguin

Moderator
I am weeding a few newer Smith revolvers out of my collection and replacing them with older models...but it is not for the reason many would think. It is not because of the locks. The locks do not bother me at all.

The reason I am ditching some of the newer Smith revolvers is the way they put the logo on the side of the gun. I just hate the laser etched logos. I am weeding out the ones with the laser etched logos in favor of ones with engraved (roll marked) logos. One of the ones with the engraved logo even has a lock and I could not care less.

Anyone that knows me is aware of the fact that I occasionally like to polish up or bead blast my firearms to give them a more refined look. With the laser etched logos you just cannot do that because of the fact that the laser etched logos will be easily damaged by such actions. Plus, I think the laser etched logos just looks cheap.

Anyone else feel this way or am I the only one this crazy and nit-picky. :)
 
I wasn't aware of the laser etched version of the logo. I can't see how it could possibly look any better (I know, this considering the statement comes from someone who routinely buys bottom of the barrel {read 5th tier guns}) Sounds like it is something that is easily wiped out.
 
There are a lot of people who have certain aesthetic aversions.
-I dislike the lock on S&W revolvers mostly because I think it looks horrible.
-I can't stand 1911 (or just about any other) pistols with the cocking serrations on the front of the slide.
-I hate large billboards on guns. Taurus and Charles Daly spring to mind.

Many folks feel that this is foolish as a gun is just a tool. Well, plenty of tool makers out there, no need to own one you think is ugly if you can get a comparable model for roughly the same price that you don't find ugly. You might take a little financial hit trading guns for what makes you happy. So I guess money can buy happiness in some scenarios.
 
You buy and keep what you like, I guess.

It doesn't really bother me. The S&W lock doesn't bother me. 1911 FCS don't bother me. Billboards on guns can be annoying, but if I like the gun, I'll overlook it.

I just laugh my rear off when somebody makes like their preferences are the gold standard for everybody. If they don't see the point, then there's absolutely no reason for it to exist. Those people are morons. But if you don't like something on a gun, by all means get something else. That's why they make more than one gun. If we all had the exact same gun, discussions would be rather boring.
 
I hate it when any gun has engraving that says something like,"WARNING--READ INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THIS FIREARM..

As if you might not know that this is a GUN and might kill ya and anyone who gets shot with it. jd
 
Hey money is no object with you, I have seen too many of your postings. Why not take a laser engraved gun you really like to a real engraver, and have them engrave an extra fancy Smith and Wesson logo on it, deep in the metal, maybe using the old marks as a guide, or sand them off and make a big old Smith roundel with oak leaves, acorns, and squirrels coming out the sides. Then gold leaf the cutouts and you will be posting it instead of pitching it!
 
I completely agree, but then again I'm just as OCD as you are.

My new Smith 629 has the laser etched logo on the left side of the gun. I would have liked to put a small polish on the gun, since Smith's metal finishing isn't the finest around, but polishing the gun would remove the logo.

I wish they would go back to the old way of roll marking their guns. They roll mark the barrel with the caliber and S&W logo, the frame with the "Made in the USA" lines, and the model number inside the crane. The only things laser etched on the gun are the serial numbers and the logo. It would be nice to see them roll mark the logo back on the side plate where it belongs.

That being said, I will accept any guns with laser etching that anyone doesn't want. I will even pay shipping :D
 
PBP:
Tot this beholder, laser etching is "nieuwerwetsen brol" (difficult to translate, this: ) It means something like "new-fangled novelty crap", something hyper-fashionable without any real necessity nor usefulness, gaudy... well, just like you said, actually.
 
"My eyes are blind but I can see"

When this type of post appears I'm often forced to actually go look at my guns, because I don't remember if they wear 'billboards',
'front cocking serrations', or other apparently egregious superfluousness.

Because I don't care, ay?
 
Here is a Picture of the difference styles of Engraving. The First one is Pin Engraved and the Second Stock Removal.
April212007012.jpg

MahanRugerside2edited.jpg
 
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I knew a man that once had this problem.

He got over it once his foot got chopped off.

And everything was roses!

PS: They put his foot back on with no laser attachments.

That man is I, and it was from a Kawaski!
 
I haven't vacuumed my car out for about a year. I go out to the woods hiking or climbing every weekend. Once in a while I pinch the dirt and loose stones on the floor and toss them out the car.....my business partners kept asking me to take it through the car wash, bought me coupons and everything....so I did. Now I can see lots of scratches where driving off logging roads with close contact vine maples has left scratches.....

uhhh...



what was that question again?
 
Both of the guns you pictured are hand engraved. Neither is etched.
Click to expand...
Bill, you are absolutely right. Don't know what I was thinking. Both are different methods of Engraving. Neither had any chemical process used in etching. Thanks for the correction. :)
 
Laser ingraving?

Hi PB,
I really don't care for the laser engraving myself. Especially if you decide to polish or bead blast the finish as your mentioned.

However, two things really bother me about the newer guns:
1. The stupid "Warning" sentence they put on the barrels.
2. I do not like the "Internal locks" they now put on Smiths and do not own one (or ever will own one) with an internal lock. Can't abide them.
 
It does'nt bother me if it looks nice.

I just don't want the stamped lettering that looks like a guy that was angry at work that day stamped my firearm.

I actually looked the laser etched lettering on my PT-101 Taurus.

The year I had had a restrained look to it.

Now some of the Model 85's look like a kid at shop class stamped the barrels.

If it looks right,the right size font and fits the gun well,I don't really mind.

I will say that very,very few engraved guns would I ever own.

Most look really tacky but a very few look like spectacular artwork and the people that do those few are truly gifted .
 
I just want the gun to shoot. Of course I also laugh at people who think I should polish up the oxidized aluminum on my Harley or get all the flat black or wrinkle coated stuff re chromed. Oxidation, by the way, can be a protective coating on aluminum.
 
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