Engraving Styles for Damascus Bodied Snapcaps

Modern technology can open up enormous possibilities for the design of the engraving on your snapcaps.
However we have found that, not surprisingly, traditional designs are usually the clearest and most pleasing to the eye.
Below we show a variety of snapcaps that we have had engraved and would suggest the following general rules.

We recommend a fairly simple block font, such as the 'Times New Roman' style as used below.
Complicated fonts may appear attractive in print but often do not lend themselves to engraving.
They are often too 'busy' and the result is poorly defined and indistinct.

We recommend the use of High case other than the 'o' in 'Co' (Company) and 'No' (Number).
Mixed case text can be a little unclear due to the small size of low case text. See Image 1.

We recommend the use of abbreviation points followed by a space on initials , eg. J. BLANCH & SON,
and numbers, eg. No. 12345, but not on Company, eg. 'Co'.
See Images 2, 3 & 6.

Where possible, we recommend the use of the full gunmaker's name as shown on the top rib of a gun of the appropriate period.
Full organisations' or clubs' names can be used if space allows or they can be abbreviate if too long.
If used with a gun number, 17 text characters including spaces is about the maximum.
If with just a gauge size, then 22 characters is about the maximum. Font size is kept in proportion to the gauge of the snapcap.
See Images 4 & 7.

We usually only put on the gauge number, without 'b', 'g', 'bore' or 'gauge' but this can added if specified.
See Images 2, 3, 4, 5 & 7.

When specifying engraving style and layout, please be clear and unambiguous about your wishes.
Once engraved it can not easily be altered.

 Price On Application.

All prices are exclusive of shipping and insurance.
All prices are subject to change without notice.

	Image 1 Combined High & Low case text on 12b snapcap. These mixed cases can be a little unclear due to the small size of low case text. Note the use of mixed case and abbreviation point in the 'No.'. We recommend this format for gun numbers.	Image 2 All High case text on 16b snapcap. Note the use of abbreviation point and space in the 'J. BLANCH & SON'.
	Image 3 High case text with mixed case in the 'Co' on 16b snapcap. We recommend this format for names that have an '& Company'.	Image 4 High case text on 16b snapcap. Note that this long name takes up most of the circumference of the snapcap, not a problem as no gun number is used.
	Image 5 Our standard High case text on a Heritage Guns 16b snapcap.	Image 6 High case text on 12b snapcap. Note that this long name takes up most of the circumference of the snapcap, only just leaving room for the gun number. Again, note the use of mixed case, abbreviation point and space in 'No.'
	Image 7 High case text on 16b snapcap. A nicely balanced head engraving.	Image 8 For comparison, hand engraving on a dedicated snapcap. Hand engraving is very beautiful but at 4-5 times the cost of CNC diamond engraving.