of identically decorated guns would be sold commemorating an individual, event, or even a general “concept,” such as “Antlered Game.” During this period, organizations such as Ducks Unlimited or various law enforcement agencies would also commission special limited runs of mass produced decorated firearms.
The 1980s and ‘90s saw a resurgence of truly exceptional engraving. The custom departments at Smith & Wesson and Colt, along with several gifted private engravers in America and Europe (Perazzi shotguns, for example, from Botticino, Italy) are currently producing working firearms that rival and in some cases surpass the “Golden Age” masterpieces.
Given this rich history, and the undeniable timeless appeal of decorated arms, how does one establish a value for an engraved gun? Let’s take a look at some of the choices.
COMMEMORATIVE ISSUES
These guns tend to be valued for their scarcity as collectibles or for their general eye appeal. If individual hand engraved guns are considered and evaluated as unique works of art, these mass produced pieces are perhaps more similar to limited edition prints of artwork or other items intentionally made to be collectibles, such as limited edition Christmas ornaments. The various price guides such as Blue Book of Gun Values or Standard Catalog of Firearms provide a good indication of the retail price of these arms. Generally speaking, the fewer produced, the older the commemorative, and the more attractive the decoration, the greater the value.
To command close to full “book” value, a commemorative type arm must be in NIB or “new in the box” condition, definitely unfired and preferably without the action having ever been worked! (Due to manufacturing tolerances, such actions as rotating the cylinder of a revolver or working the lever of a rifle can create minute scratches in the finish that will reduce the desirability of a collectible commemorative). Once a commemorative has been fired, its value begins to rapidly decline towards that of a standard non-decorated example of the same model. A commemorative that shows extensive wear will often bring much less than a plain model with similar wear.
Although the interest in commemoratives declined in the 1970s and 1980s, probably due to over-production, today’s market shows some signs of renewed interest.
INSCRIBED PIECES
A gun which has no decoration other than an individual’s name or other inscription may bring more or less than a similar gun without any special marking. There are two factors that determine the value, historical significance and authenticity.
Of these factors, authenticity of the inscription will make or break the piece. Unfortunately, out and out fraudulent inscribed guns are not that uncommon. Often, the documentation accompanying the piece and providing some “provenance” of the authenticity of the inscription will be a deciding factor.
Once determined to be authentic, the premium that an inscribed piece brings will be determined by its historical significance. As can be imagined, a modern gun that just has “someone else’s name” on it will generally be less desirable for a shooter than a plain gun, and may be worth less because of the inscription. On the other hand, authentically inscribed guns which can be proven to have been owned by a famous (or infamous) individual can bring astronomical prices for the history they embody.
Any authentic inscription that is more than 100 years old will generally add some interest and value to a gun.
MODERN ENGRAVED GUNS
Engraved firearms have to be evaluated as individual works of art. Some of the factors that must be considered include skill of workmanship, extent of coverage, artistic appeal and uniqueness. Factory engraving will bring a premium over engraving of unknown origin. Sparse coverage brings less than full coverage.
For example, Smith & Wesson offers three standard levels of engraving. Their “C” is 1/3 coverage, with recent pricing ranging in the $800 to $1,250 range, depending on the size of the gun (this is the engraving charge, and does not include the base price of the gun). The S&W “B” engraving is 2/3 coverage and runs in the $1,300 to $1,500 range, while full or “A” coverage engraving costs around $1,400 to $1,900.
Colt’s custom engraving runs the opposite direction. Colt’s “A” engraving is the least coverage, and the scale runs up to “D” grade full coverage. Colt also offers varying qualities of engraving: Standard, Expert and Master. According to the Blue Book of Gun Values recent pricing for Colt’s top of the line Master grade engraving, signed by the master engraver, on a Colt Single Action Army was $1,163 for A; $2,324 for B; $3,487 for C; and $4,647 for D.
These values are for standard scrollwork patterns. Special jobs requiring artistic talent in the development of a unique design can run considerably more.
A major determining factor on non-factory engraved guns is the reputation and skill of the engraver. As with other artists, the acknowledged masters of the form will bring substantial premiums over unknown engravers. When dealing with an unknown engraver, the quality of the work will determine its final value. The finest engraving is always done with hand tools, chisel and hammer. Crudely done engraving can actually lessen the value of a firearm.
ANTIQUE ENGRAVING
Older engraving is valued in a similar way to modern engraving: the artistic quality, extent of coverage and reputation of the engraver are of greatest importance. However, most 19th century engraving was not signed by the engraver, and attribution to a particular hand is much more art than science, and that art has been mastered by only a few students after many years of study.
Fortunately, factory records for firms such as Winchester, Colt and Smith & Wesson are intact and originality of engraving on a particular serial numbered gun can often be determined by a search of the records. On the other hand, much 19th century engraving was ordered by the distributors, such as giant M.W. Robinson, rather than the manufacturers. Sometimes, a factory notation that a gun was shipped to a distributor “soft” or “in the white” indicates that the gun was intended to be engraved. Some of the finest engraved guns were commissioned by distributors or even by individual owners. When considering paying a premium for old engraving, it’s a very good idea to get an expert opinion on the authenticity and quality.
Ultimately, gun value and engraving come down to individual taste. Most shooters and firearms enthusiasts find that sooner or later they get the hankering for a “fancy” gun. Even individuals who may not be interested in guns can appreciate the artistry of a beautifully engraved firearm.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The recently published book Steel Canvas by R. L. Wilson features a fascinating and authoritative discussion of arms engraving along with beautiful photographs of some of the finest firearms ever made. Earlier works by the same author include Winchester Engraving, Colt Engraving, and Nimschke’s pattern book published as L.D. Nimschke, Firearms Engraver. Firearms Engraving as Decorative Art by Frederic Harris provides an interesting discussion of the origins of engraving motif’s in oriental art along with a theory about identifying individual engravers by a detailed study of their cutting style.
COLT COLLECTOR’S ASSOCIATION, INC. 2006 “SHOW GUN”
As an example of the quality of engraving on specialty Colt firearms available to and desired by avid collectors, the Colt Collector’s Association, Inc. offered the following revolver as the “Show Gun” during its annual three day show in Louisville, Kentucky in October, 2006. This gun is the highest example of gun engraving and decoration today
