Engraver

Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Engraving, specifically Intaglio Engraving, is incising metal with a burin or graver. It is the act of carving away material to create a design. Etching is a way of putting a design in metal using acid to bite in the design. Both techniques are often used together in the 18th century.

It is bound to happen but hopefully not often. If a slip is unintentionally made and is shallow, it can be burnished out. Burnishing is a way of rubbing over the mark to push surface metal. If the mistake is more severe, it may require the Engraver to scrape away the metal around the cut to the lowest point of the incision, followed by rubbing with emery cloths, burnishing, and polishing. The more severe mistakes could take seconds to make and hours or days to repair.

Sometimes we do, but a Gunsmith would usually do gun engraving. There are some differences in technique between the two trades. Where the Engraver cutting hollowware, watches, and jewelry uses a burin which is pushed by the hand to make cuts, Gunsmiths often use a chasing or hammering style of technique. They use a longer handled tool with a steeper cutting angle and a very small hammer to drive the tool to make the cuts. This is an efficient way of making cuts in harder materials like steel.