I have this little 1956 Smith & Wesson .38 Centennial Pre-Model 40, Flat Latch Variation. I know it shipped to Sutcliffe Hardware as a blue gun wich was Nickeled and ingraved. Does anyone know how I can find out who did the Engraving?

You can start by posting detailed pics of the engraving, showing all area that were engraved. Since it was engraved after being shipped, the only sure way will be to find the engraver signature. Sometimes hidden in the engraving itself, some are under the sideplate or under the grips, etc.

Charlie

I wish you luck. A while back I bought just a fantastic 38-44 that someone had engraved and inlayed. The most catching part was all the silver wire inlay. So I really looked it over when I got home with it. Every inch, several times. No joy.

Then I took it to a gun show and asked Jeff Flannery, an engraver I know. It was a simple and casual question. He looked at my gun for a good long time and finally said he didn't have a clue. But coming up the aisle was the president of the engravers guild, if anyone could tell it would be him. His answer was also that he didn't know. And that it wasn't a member of the guild, but he should be. It made me feel good, but didn't answer my question.

I don't buy every engraved gun I see. I only buy the ones that seem to me to be very good quality. Most of us will never know who the engravers are. Its a shame that they don't place a mark of some kind where it can be discovered. Some buyers might not like that part, especially the gun makers. They don't even want us to know who did the factory work.

I will only suggest you show it around to others who have engraved guns or engravers themselves. One thing that might offend you but you need to hear it is others opinions of the quality of the work. There are some high volume/mediocre quality engravers out and about. They seem to push the work out, valuing volume over quality. If you hear some say it looks like one of their works, accept it. You could actually be better off not knowing.

I have an early postwar K22 that we've concluded is "in the style" of Ben Shostle. Its good and its deep. If I could prove it, the value might double. Or not.

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Dick Burg

Does the revolver have an R-N inside of a rectangle stamped on the left side of the grip frame indicating S&W did the change of finish? If it does, it is possible the engraving was done by S&W. If not, finding out who engraved it will be a very difficult task.

Bill

I have the letter from Smith and it says the work was done after it was shipped. I tried to upload the pics but I can't find the url for em.

I was able to post pics on the Colt forum. It is some of the finest engraving that I have seen, but I'm not a big fan of engraved guns.