Hand Stamps

[Scota4570]

I want to get a hand stamp made to mark barrels on rifles I make.  IT would say "S. Armstrong".  The font would be old timie , possibly like Hawken used.  I think I want hammer struck.

I also have a hydraulic press with a pressure gauge.  I could rig a dial indicator to watch it go in.  Don't want to crush any barrels though. 

Who custom makes such stamps?   

[David Rase]

I have been real happy with the personal service I get from Steel Stamps in Bosie, ID.  I am a repeat customer.  https://www.steelstampsinc.com/
David

[J.E. Moore]

 I had one made by C&W steel stamps co. www.ringstamps.com. it came fast and was exactly as I had requested, price seemed reasonable too.

[Scota4570]

I'll call them. 

Should I be shopping a single stamp that I wack with a hammer, or possibly a roll die?  I was thinking of fixing the roll die holder in  the milling machine and moving the barrel with the cross feed. 

 Seems like "S. ARMSTRONG" 3/16" high with a hammer  and stamp might be sketchy. 

[davec2]

Scota4570,

I would vote for the rolling die.  It would take a tremendous amount of force to impress the whole stamp with 3/16" high letters all at once without destroying the bore.  Just my thought.

Dave C

[Scota4570]

I've been working with Infinity stamps.  They don't seem to understand what is needed.  For a roll stamp they quoted $750.  For a plate operated by my a press it was only $150, they felt putting a mandrill in the barrel to prevent distorting the bore was a good solution.

Let me try my question differently,  What do you all use to stamp your name on a barrel? 

The stamp will state, S. ARMSTRONG  SALINAS That could be one or two stamps.  The characters will be 3/32" high.   I said 3/16 before and was wrong.   The font will be like Microsoft engravers MT. 

I'll check other suggested vendors and see. 

Thanks,

Scot

[rich pierce]

I engrave, not stamp, but if I was making a lot of later guns I would get a stamp.

[T*O*F]

What do you all use to stamp your name on a barrel?

Learn to engrave it in script.  Much easier and cheaper.
I've got a whack-a-mole stamp with my last name on it.  It ends up screwing up more than getting it right and ending up having to do a double strike. 

[rich pierce]

I agree with Dave. Some of the original Hawken rifles have mangled stamps, and they had lots of practice.

[ddoyle]

A small intwined FAF/SAS in script appropriate to the period might be more pleasing to the eye then the full text and be more stamp friendly.

Full names when engraved speak to the builders skill and are admirable in perfection (but only because the engraving is  a work of art in it's self) heck  99% of the finest guns made in the world boast only very subtle indication of the builder's identity.  Anything not required detracts from beauty.

[Lucky R A]

    After building a gun, engraving your name in a nice cartouche seems to be the crowning element of a hand crafted longrifle.  I have always considered stamped names a later and far less elegant way to identify a maker.  A stamped makers name seems to say "manufactured" rather than handmade...but then I am an old curmudgeon   Ron