Who are the "go-to" NFA engravers? - Page 1

Armory » General NFA Questions

Site Notices

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Who are the "go-to" NFA engravers?

Posted: 6/5/2017 10:05:32 PM EDT

It's been a while...

Who for excellent work, turn around time, reliability, etc?

Posted: 6/5/2017 10:13:26 PM EDT

[#1]

Well, seeing as how you're in SC, Tar Heel State Firearms in Matthews (Charlotte area) is who you should go to.

I'll be heading over there tomorrow afternoon to help a friend get a bunch of stuff engraved, prints, and photos.

They did the engraving on my SBS and it's fantastic work.

Posted: 6/6/2017 1:29:06 AM EDT

[#2]

I'd ask in your hometown forum and see who they use unless you want stuff like engraving ar lowers around the trigger or something like that(which a local shop might not be able to do). I'd personally think a local shop where you can drop it off and don't have to worry about shipping would be the best option if you have a good one near you.

I personally have used TSC machine for all of my sbr engraving. He is semi local to me though. On ar's I just have him do the basic on the side near the fire control group pins. Good news is almost every time I've needed engraving I've been able to bring it to him and they will do it while I wait.

Posted: 6/6/2017 2:12:46 AM EDT

[#3]

Ident.

/thread

Posted: 6/6/2017 3:45:01 AM EDT

[#4]

Tar Heel State

Posted: 6/6/2017 8:50:16 AM EDT

[#5]

THSF all the way. I've used a wide variety, both local and around the US. Nobody beats the quality, speed and price of THSF. Luckily for me, they're also ~40 minutes away, so I can go watch them do it and not have to ship anything.

Posted: 6/6/2017 8:56:46 AM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Well, seeing as how you're in SC, Tar Heel State Firearms in Matthews (Charlotte area) is who you should go to.
I'll be heading over there tomorrow afternoon to help a friend get a bunch of stuff engraved, prints, and photos.
They did the engraving on my SBS and it's fantastic work.

View Quote

This, you'll have it back in ~2 days.

Posted: 6/6/2017 4:36:53 PM EDT

[#7]

Tar Hill State Firearms. Great people and excellent work!

Posted: 6/7/2017 6:00:34 AM EDT

[#8]

I have always liked Orion Arms.
Orion Arms

Posted: 6/7/2017 6:51:12 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have always liked Orion Arms.
Orion Arms

View Quote

They've done great work for me.

Posted: 6/7/2017 7:18:23 AM EDT

[#10]

Another vote for Tarheel. Very quick turnaround

Posted: 6/7/2017 8:05:13 AM EDT

[#11]

Tim at SAS will to them as well.
$35 for side of mag well.
$75 for Front of mag well TRUST NAME Size dependent.

$50 for fixed trigger guard.

You pay shipping is all.

Suppressed Armament Systems
Reno NV

775-386-9880

24 hours turn around times as well.

thanks
RLTW
Steve
816-718-9489

Posted: 6/7/2017 3:09:38 PM EDT

[#12]

Veritas machining and are an ffl.

They did mine on lip of magwell...dead sexy.

Posted: 6/7/2017 3:41:55 PM EDT

[#13]

Um, Capitol Armory is a site sponsor. Great work, and quick turnaround times. Give them a call. Nothing bad to say about any of the other suggestions.

Posted: 6/8/2017 9:00:47 PM EDT

[#14]

THSF did my lowers for me, and they did a fantastic job. I'd recommend them wholeheartedly.

Posted: 6/8/2017 9:09:05 PM EDT

[#15]

Orion has always done a good job for me.

Posted: 6/8/2017 9:24:53 PM EDT

[#16]

I would likely send my stuff to Tar Heel or Ident.

Posted: 6/9/2017 11:00:14 AM EDT

[#17]

I stopped by Ident yesterday and they did a good job.

The other engraver I've used is US Tactical in Virginia. He's a one man operation but his results were easily as good as Ident's.

Posted: 6/9/2017 11:18:34 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
I stopped by Ident yesterday and they did a good job.

The other engraver I've used is US Tactical in Virginia. He's a one man operation but his results were easily as good as Ident's.

View Quote

Can you post a picture of it? I've seen a lot of recommendations for Ident and some of the pictures on their website don't look extremely impressive in my opinion. They're local so it's convenient, but I'm still not 100% sure I want to go there.

Posted: 6/9/2017 11:44:58 AM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

Can you post a picture of it? I've seen a lot of recommendations for Ident and some of the pictures on their website don't look extremely impressive in my opinion. They're local so it's convenient, but I'm still not 100% sure I want to go there.

View Quote

How impressive do you expect block Arial font to look when lasered onto a gun?

Posted: 6/9/2017 11:48:50 AM EDT

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
How impressive do you expect block Arial font to look when lasered onto a gun?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:

Can you post a picture of it? I've seen a lot of recommendations for Ident and some of the pictures on their website don't look extremely impressive in my opinion. They're local so it's convenient, but I'm still not 100% sure I want to go there.

How impressive do you expect block Arial font to look when lasered onto a gun?

I've seen some pictures of engravings with great clean borders finished looking like it was put on there from the factory. Some of what I've seen from Ident looks rough around the edges. If it were a $50 milspec lower I wouldn't care that much, but I'm engraving a discontinued $450 billet so I want to make sure it looks good the first time so that's it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

Posted: 6/9/2017 1:40:34 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:

I've seen some pictures of engravings with great clean borders finished looking like it was put on there from the factory. Some of what I've seen from Ident looks rough around the edges. If it were a $50 milspec lower I wouldn't care that much, but I'm engraving a discontinued $450 billet so I want to make sure it looks good the first time so that's it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

View Quote

If it makes you feel better the two guns engraved were a MKE MP5 clone and a MP5SD clone, neither of which are cheap. Very happy with the cosmetic results on both. I do not have a picture handy.

Posted: 6/9/2017 2:04:36 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
Veritas machining and are an ffl.

They did mine on lip of magwell...dead sexy.

View Quote

Used them for a side of magwell custom logo. Had one iteration to revise the text and then it was done.

Posted: 6/9/2017 2:15:53 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:

Can you post a picture of it? I've seen a lot of recommendations for Ident and some of the pictures on their website don't look extremely impressive in my opinion. They're local so it's convenient, but I'm still not 100% sure I want to go there.

View Quote

Ident does good work. They used to have a pretty slow (4-8 week) turnaround, but I believe that's been fixed for awhile.

For convenience reasons, if you can go and have it done while you wait (and not pay shipping), it's not a bad deal. If shipping is involved, they simply don't do anything to justify $55 for an SBR vs the $30 THSF charges.

I wouldn't hesitate to use them based on a fear of low quality.

Posted: 6/12/2017 6:19:57 PM EDT

[#24]

Completely stupid question and probably could answer myself, how are yall shipping your lowers to places like THSF for engraving? What carrier are you using and about how much does it cost you?

Posted: 6/12/2017 8:00:17 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
Completely stupid question and probably could answer myself, how are yall shipping your lowers to places like THSF for engraving? What carrier are you using and about how much does it cost you?

View Quote

I used FedEx Express. I do some of the shipping and receiving at work, so I boxed my stuff up and sent it off to them with a return label in the box. It cost me about $40 if I remember right.

Posted: 6/16/2017 9:48:05 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Veritas machining and are an ffl.

They did mine on lip of magwell...dead sexy.

View Quote

Veritas and Orion have always worked well for me.

Posted: 6/17/2017 2:22:20 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Veritas machining and are an ffl.

They did mine on lip of magwell...dead sexy.

View Quote

so many good choices, I went with Veritas since they're local (2 hours away) from me. it was cool to be able to put a face with the voice on the phone and learn about how the lasers operated

Posted: 6/17/2017 2:23:09 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
Completely stupid question and probably could answer myself, how are yall shipping your lowers to places like THSF for engraving? What carrier are you using and about how much does it cost you?

View Quote

Shipped one off today to them. Used FedEx. $17 for 2 day. Only thing they asked was is not a complete firearm.

Posted: 6/17/2017 4:35:18 PM EDT

[#29]

Just a quick heads-up for anybody sending stuff to THSF. Scott sent me an email yesterday to say they had a medical emergency in the family and probably won't be engraving for a couple days. Probably back at it by Wed or Thu. Still probably faster than a lot of places, but it won't be the 24-hour turnaround they usually provide.

Posted: 6/18/2017 12:46:32 AM EDT

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:
Just a quick heads-up for anybody sending stuff to THSF. Scott sent me an email yesterday to say they had a medical emergency in the family and probably won't be engraving for a couple days. Probably back at it by Wed or Thu. Still probably faster than a lot of places, but it won't be the 24-hour turnaround they usually provide.

View Quote

Waited 11 months for the stamp, whats a couple more days.

Family first.

Posted: 6/18/2017 10:36:32 AM EDT

[#31]

We've been using Gray Laser in San Antonio.

Quick turnaround and the owner is a real nice guy.

Posted: 6/20/2017 9:10:33 PM EDT

[#32]

Ident

Gray Laser Engraving

Both are excellent.

Posted: 6/23/2017 8:37:00 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
THSF all the way. I've used a wide variety, both local and around the US. Nobody beats the quality, speed and price of THSF.

View Quote

This

Posted: 6/23/2017 9:30:40 PM EDT

[#34]

Got mine back from Tar Heel State today. Very nice. Packaged real well.

Posted: 6/23/2017 9:35:25 PM EDT

[#35]

Tarheel State Firearms. Had numerous items engraved, the work and turnaround time are second to none.

Posted: 6/24/2017 5:29:51 AM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:
Tar Heel State

View Quote

This .... I made an appointment for a Saturday morning. Drove down and they did it while I waited, 4 lowers and an AK. Was in and out in like 30 minutes.

Posted: 6/29/2017 2:32:49 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
THSF did my lowers for me, and they did a fantastic job. I'd recommend them wholeheartedly.

View Quote

+1 for me also with THSF, great service & will use them in the future.

Posted: 7/15/2017 12:08:31 AM EDT

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:
Um, Capitol Armory is a site sponsor. Great work, and quick turnaround times. Give them a call. Nothing bad to say about any of the other suggestions.

View Quote

I had Capitol engrave a lower for me yesterday. Looks good and did it while I waited.
They did the engraving and form 1 for me (since they had my photos and fingerprints). Whole process was less then 10 minutes.

Posted: 8/1/2017 9:02:59 PM EDT

[#39]

Just dropped my box off at the post office to get shipped to THFS, expected turnaround time means they should be back say monday?

Posted: 8/9/2017 12:32:49 PM EDT

[#40]

Thanks to the advice in this thread, I sent my lower to THSF. It was at his place for less then 24 hours before it was finished and on the way back to me. I included a return shipping label but I also accidentally clicked on the option to pay them to ship it back to me when I checked out on the website. He refunded me the $15 shipping fee since I included the return label. I will definitely be sending them any future lower that I need engraved.

Posted: 8/10/2017 10:03:03 AM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
I have always liked Orion Arms.
Orion Arms

View Quote

Me too. I like their inside the trigger guard engraving.

They've got one of mine right now, in fact.

Posted: 8/10/2017 10:06:39 AM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:
Veritas machining and are an ffl.

They did mine on lip of magwell...dead sexy.

View Quote

Another vote for Veritas here. They did 2 lowers of mine, magwell lip on both, and did an excellent job.

Pretty quick turnaround time and excellent customer service / communications as well.