Some engraved firearms are works of art and not intended for use. Which is fine. Others are working guns that their owner chooses to embellish with some artful engraving.

I was at a military range around 1966/68. I noticed a lt. col. with a tastefully engraved S&W Combat Masterpiece. He told me he'd used that handgun (per-engraved) while serving in Korea. Used it to take out North Korean sentries with head shots. Now that's an engraved handgun I'd like to own.