I didn't want to hijack the previous threat of those beautiful engraved guns but I want to ask how do you go about putting a value on a gun if you have the chance to buy one. Obviously the quality of engraving is a huge factor as is was the gun NIB or in need of a refinish to start with. But where do you start?? How does it affect value if there is no box or case with it? Does it help if the engraving is signed by a known engraver? So many questions. Thanks for the help

It is not my collecting area, but the collectibility/value order seems to be:
Factory and degree of coverage (presentation to a famous person a big plus)
Famous/known engraver and coverage, precious metal inlays
Quality work in known style but unknown artist
Desirable gun with engraving secondary (think W & K .44 HE with folk engraving)

I have no doubt left out something .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Engraved firearms, engraved knives, oil paintings and other Objet_d'art are often one of a kind and there is no easy checklist to come up with value.

For a ballpark, I tend to look at what a comparable (or the same) engraver would charge today to duplicate the work and go from there as the base point

As Alan mentions
+$ for documented Factory work
+$ for known Famous Engraver
+$ if Engraver is currently in demand
+$ for documented Famous Recipient
+$ for precious metal work

In the grand scheme of things, whether the firearm (or other underlying object) was LNIB (unfired since leaving the factory) or needed refinishing anyway does not alter the final number by enough to overly worry about.

The company I work for buys and sells Art Knives so we go through this at every large show.

Here are examples of art knives if you are unfamiliar:

Carefully................very carefully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Over the years having seen dozens if not hundreds of threads here with,on or about engraved guns...........very very carefully!!!

I think Allen & Colt have hit the high points ......... kind of like buying any other form of "art"....a job for experts.

I really am fond of FACTORY engraved items, so take my opinions with a small amount of salt.

Current Guns, (Post 1970) --- Double the price of same Non Engraved Item

Earlier, Pre War/Post War, up until 60's --- Seller's Market, -- Katie bar the door on price.

Unless one specializes in the sale or acquisition of engraved guns, there is no good way for the average collector to assess their market value. As stated, documented factory engraving and work done by well-known and well-regarded master engravers will have the highest demand and bring the highest prices, again from purchasers who know a great deal more about the value of the engraving than 99% of us. That is one reason that I have no particular interest in engraved guns. Another is that engraved masterpieces are made for display as works of art, not for shooting. Still another is that some years ago I actually bought what I thought was a very nicely engraved pre-Model 36 for what I thought was a good price, only to find out later it wasn't worth what I paid for it. Once bit, twice cautious.

You've received great advice above. I've purchased a few engraved guns (after being an admirer for many years) and I'll tell you some of the main things that I look for:

1. Most importantly, you have to ask yourself the question "Does the work speak to me?" If it does not - then walk away. You should only collect engraved guns that you like. This a "style" question. For example, the "cattle brand" and "Wolf and Klar" styles never really spoke to me, so those are not ones that I collect. On the other hand, there are several collectors who have beautiful examples of both of these styles that I can appreciate very much, but still not collect for my own collection.

1.b. I also look for tastefully unique pieces that stand out as "one of a kind". This includes the "canvas". Rare calibers, rare barrel lengths, the "first one", historic provenance, unique finishes (e.g. pintos), famous inlays (e.g. scenes from famous artists), carved/ivory or unique stocks etc. add to the uniqueness/value of engraved guns.

2. Confirmation of the engraver. I place this above item 3 (is it factory engraved). Well known engravers who do outstanding work, trump factory work for me. As an example, one of my favorite non-factory engravers is Claus Willig (he claims to only have engraved a couple dozen or so S&Ws), also many of the Alvin White pieces out there were not done for the Factory.

3. Is it factory engraved? If so, was it one of the Italian contract engraved guns (they are nice and I have several examples of this era, but they all look very similar to me). If not, have you been able to identify the engraver (e.g. H. Jarvis, R. Smith, T. Freyburger, P. Piquette - would be some of the more well known ones). There were also some excellent independent/freelance engravers who did work for the factory, or who worked for the factory for a short period of time (e.g. S. Rentzschke, D. Thirion, A.A. White).

4. To price the guns, I follow most of the public auctions where engraved S&Ws are auctioned off. I bid on the ones I like (at prices that I feel the work justifies) and I keep track of the prices realized when the guns sell. NOTE: I try and collect photos of all engraved Smiths that I find. I keep these photos in a file and refer to them when trying to determine who engraved what and comparing the quality of engraving with the known sources that I have seen. I also occasionally will reach out to a few trusted collector friends and get their thoughts on guns that are in the market.

5. Lastly - If it is a gun that I really want, I pay what the seller is asking, which is usually a modest profit from what they paid to own the gun. I always try and be fair with all of the people that offer me engraved guns and give them a range of what I think it is worth, but also I generally tell them what it is worth to me, which is usually at either the high end or the low end of the range. What something is worth to me is dependent on many of the above factors and what I currently have in my collection.

Now - Commissioning a piece to be engraved and selecting an engraver to do the work - that is a whole different discussion!

Hope this helps.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

I've owned s few.As mentioned above,the market considers factory work as a $+,but so much of it appears passionless or second rate to me.
I've seen lousy work,factory and non factory, where I would rather have an untouched gun,even if the engraving factored in for free.
Just because a reconized engraver did it,doesn't make it great.They too,can have their good days,and not so good days.
The factory did have access to some great engravers,but I think some of the best engravers are self employed craftsmen,with customers lined up.Some truly great guns go for less money than they should in my opinion,as the notion of "aftermarket" limits the price.I don't quite get that,but that's the reality of the situation.
A gun with initials or a name on it,always suffers in value,unless it is a reconized person.

Ya know, this is one of those subjects that the haters may have an opinion, but its close to worthless. The world cleves into distinct groups on the subject of engraved guns. The worst group to ask are the guys that all hate engraved guns. Mostly regular guys (or girls) that love guns but just can't see spending anything on an engraved piece of art. Some even feel an engraved gun is worth less.

Others of us are actively looking, all the time. I tend to place pretty much emphasis on RKMesa because he owns so many of them. When I see such a gun at a show, I consider how the gun looks and how it would fit with my other treasures. Sellers often want way too much for such a gun. They tend to price them based on what they have in them.

But remember all engraved guns except factory work are refinished. And as stated above, factory engraved does set a base line of value, but its often not as good as some of the great aftermarket guys. And its why some engraved guns seem to languish nearly forever. I've even been called some un-nice things when I tell a seller he wants way too much for a gun. It doesn't matter, I'm not going to overpay for a common gun that has mediocre scratches, or what we used to call Mexican or pawn shop work. While its traditional on W&K guns, it doesn't often increase their value. At least to me.

But then I like inlay work. Some of it is just spectacular, and I willingly pay more for that. It will even move me off top dead center to buy a gun if its well done.

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Dick Burg

I wont go into a long dissertation on engraved guns. Everything I have to say is my own opinion about what I value in an engraved gun. I only collect factory engraved guns. I'm not diminishing any ones collection of after market engraved guns. Many of the after market engraved guns are far superior to factory engraved guns.I personally do not collect engraved Smith & Wesson's past the 5 screw era.That's just me , for I feel the older factory engraved guns hold their value better than the later one's.Every collector of engraved guns should have a library of books on engraving.and observe guns at gun shows and displays.I prefer large open foliate scroll engraving without inlays. very much like the early SAA's of the pre-war era. That's my humble personal opinion. Like Richard said the gun must speak to you. That's probably the most important thing.
Bill