OK to answer Grenadier.

My teacher of what to look for is a now retired engraver by name of Bruce Dean (Sydney, OZ). He trained under Lyndon Dadswell at the now Sydney College of Fine Arts and was appenticed at the age of 15 as a diesinker, a trade that he continued in part (as self employed) until part time retirement at the age of 67.

As many may not know diesinking requires deep relief work be exact so his tools of trade were the usual hand gravers (Not using a hammer) and a Zeiss 20X binocular microscope.

Those that have seen his work are Lyndon MacKenzie and the once head of the US pistol? team at the 2000 Olympics who took a rubber copy of his masterwork for display back in the US.

Some years back (93?) a fella from Purdeys (Ali Rasheed?) arrived here thinking he'd make good and having examined some of Bruce's and others work decided there would be better chance of making a good living back in Blighty.

Another OZ worker is Damien Connolly who can pass opinion as did Larry (whatisname) who remarked that his work surpassed the Tiffany Colts of the era.

Anyway one of Bruce's talents was that he can use either hand to steer the graver and as professionals know you work in an arc toward the body but once you have to cut away then the arc differs as you lose a bit of control. If a practtioner uses only one hand then it shows BUT this diminishes over the ensuing years.

Some of Bruce's customers remarked that they did not like the work as it appeared "too mechanical" due the exact work.

Capiche?