Ken, Glen and Greg came to Bon Aqua to shoot with us last month and I was able to see your work up close and personal!  The inlaid gold border on both their rifles was very tasteful and darn good-looking. The question is the evgraving for the inlay done first, then the case coloring, with the actual inlay done last? I was thinking that the heat of casing would melt out the inlay? Thanks, Ken Pointer

David is right on about the melying point of 24 ct. gold. I always inlay the gold first and then cut the scroll. If gold animals are to done, I inlay them first , cut all scroll and finish up by engraving the detail on the animals. The surface is well hand polished after all scratching is done and then sent off for color case or carbonia bluing.  The color case work I have done is about 1500 degrees for an hour & then quenched ar about 70 degrees.

Glad you liked the work -- I never liked wide gold border work, the thin lines (.007 - .005 ) always looked more tasteful to me.    Ken