I fit the inlay to the stock first, then remove the inlay for engraving. You have to do a good fit up first or this will not work. I can engrave inlays and parts on the gun and I do this quite often. It's just a little more cumbersome to engrave parts on the rifle. Many of our beloved early rifle that are engraved were engraved with the parts off of the rifle, many were not. It is PC to go either way. Some rifles had both on an off of the rifle engraving. For me I will engrave as much as possible off the rifle.