Hi Richard,
I am going to relate a story about English engraving. I must warn you that I cannot remember the source. I think it was Lynton Mckenzie but I am not sure. Throughout the 18th century, firearms engraving in Britain was largely by hammer and chisel unless the metal was very soft into which hand pushed gravers could cut details and shading. Hammer and chisel became even more important near the end of the century because the fashion for bluing and browning all the iron and steel parts required deeper cutting to enable it to show very well. However, by the 1830s or so, many of the experienced hammer and chisel men were old and retiring, and the younger engravers could make a lot more money engraving copperplate, particularly for the printing industry. Copperplate was engraved by hand pushed gravers so the number of hammer and chisel men to work for the firearms industry declined precipitously. As a result, engravers employed by the gun makers were increasingly trained as copperplate cutters and the designs on firearms had to get lighter and more intricate to make up for a lack of depth. This situation enventually resulted in the fine English scroll work we see in mid 18th century British guns.
dave
