Engravers

[shawn_c992001]

I'm thinking of having one of my 94 Winchesters engraved. Does anybody know any good ones?

[jdad]

Marlinman93 passed this guy on to me.

www.gunfancy.com

[GrantC]

This is a really contentious question, believe it or not - because it comes down to someone's ability to recognize what is and is not quality in art, and then to appreciate it when it's found. In other words, some people are happy with a velvet Elvis hanging on the wall, because they can't tell the difference between that and something better. The same is true with engraved guns.

If one's tastes in engraving aren't well developed, one can simply look in the local yellow pages for any old engraver - there are lots of them around, and no need to ask for referrals. (Frankly, the work of most engravers makes me wince - I guess I'm just a "snob"! That's probably because I have a bit of an art background - Mom was a painter - and learned from an early age how to judge style and workmanship.)

The trouble is that by asking for blind recommendations, you have no idea if the responder is the velvet Elvis type, or the snob (like me.) In other words, you first need to define what level of workmanship you want, then ask for people who can deliver that quality to you.

I usually recommend to anyone who is serious about investing in engraving: get or borrow a copy of the book "Steel Canvas" by R.L. Wlson. (Yeah, I know, he's a scoundrel - but that book is simply the best of its type on the market.) It will open your eyes not only to the myriad of styles available, but will give you solid benchmarks for evaluating the work of those that you see.

Once you have a good foundation of appreciation for the art, you'll be in a much better position to ask for recommendations.

Yes, the book is expensive - but even a mediocre engraving job is many times more expensive. As a percentage of the job, it is miniscule. Think of it as an investment in what you hope will be a real treasure.

[Hobie]

Write EngraverTom of this forum. He might have some suggestions. MY suggestion is that you look at the work of several engravers to find one whose work YOU like.

[Andrew]

MY suggestion is that you look at the work of several engravers to find one whose work YOU like.

That would be my advice as well. That is sound practice for any job that is as hard to reverse(impossible?) as engraving is.

[John in MS]

I solidly agree with GrantC. VERY good advice. Some engravers are bona-fide graduates of the "American School of Stick-Figure Engraving," and charge just as much as really GOOD engravers.

One thing I have found is that some can not engrave pleasing or life-like animals, but can do great scroll, etc. If, in studying your artist's work, you find he's one of these, the safest best is to skip the critters and just go with a pattern you can be pretty sure will come out well. Having poor engraving on a gun is at least as frustrating as having pitting and gouges. Well, maybe a bit MORE frustrating, as you PAID to have your gun destroyed...

Do your homework and you should be very pleased, but do be alert to possibilities that you will not like the outcome, depending on the SUBJECT, as well as the artist.

Hope this helps,
John

[shawn_c992001]

The guy for Gun Fancy does some pretty nice scroll work but his people and animal figures leave some to be desired. This guy turns out some very sweet work I could drool over this page all day www.thegunengraver.com He has been engraving since 1979.

Does any one one the forum have anybody to recommend?

[Ysabel Kid]

Must... resist... must... resist....

Yep - beening thinking of having some of my firearms personalized as well. Great post!!!

[1988rrc]

here is a sample i think turned out very nice.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =102525057

[shawn45]

Jim Riggs is a friend of mine and has been engraving around for at least 30 years. The last thing I saw he did was Scott Tschirharts .500 Linebaugh. He does excellent work.

[Pete44ru]

Jim Riggs is one of this country's premier engravers, who's work has often been pictured in GUN DIGEST.

[colo native]

look here www.kenburklow.com he's done 4 saa for me, one is in samples with family brand..

[shawn_c992001]

That SAA is looking good!!!