Thanks for the comments guys!
Wildcat2 - I took a 6 day engraving class at the NMLRA Gunsmithing seminar at WKU six years ago or so, Jim Kibler was the instructor. I learned a lot but most importantly how to sharpen a graver. I had been sharpening freehand on oil-stones but a couple of years back I bought a graver sharpening guide and a set of diamond stones. When the class was over my engraving improved from really crappy to just plain crappy - but I learned the basics which have slowly improved on each gun I engrave. I should practice more but I get impatient. I will try to remember to take a picture of my guide and stones and post it - here is a link to Lindsay who makes it and how to use it:
Lindsay Graver Sharpener I really like this guide as it is simple (like me!)
A power hone would be nice but they are pricey.
Wmdbowman, I have made a few specialty gravers from tool steel, but I mostly buy blanks and grind them. I have even make some from old small round files for a special cut, but for most of my work I use a 90 or 120 degree graver. I am not an especially good engraver but I am persistent at trying. My engraving always looks better when viewed from across the room!!!
I have learned a great deal from all the mistakes I have made along the way. As you mentioned one important thing is to recognize when the graver gets dull or get even a tiny chip in it, and STOP using it
immediately, and switch it out or sharpen it.
For my stippling of the background areas I chisel out the area and have been using one of those old Craftsman engraving tools made for writing numbers on items for identification. Noisy but seems to work!
Here is the trigger guard and plate on the gun as it looks now, haven't engraved the screws yet:
Escutchons on the gun:
Curtis