Just a general question...

How much would you knock off the value of an uncommon but not super rare hand ejector, not minty, but not in particularly bad shape, in which someone engraved their name on it? Not by an expert engraved, clearly not factory, not incredibly ugly or like some guns are, where the owner etched their social security number on it. In other words, the revolver did not benefit from the engraving, and it's not a real eyesore, but the revolver would be better off without it.

I really think it would have to be thought about on a case by case basis, taking in consideration the rarity of the piece, condition, and the engraving.

Can you post pictures?

Under the grips or in plain view??????????????

How famous was the engraver..... GS Patton famous???????

It depends.

If you are a buyer, negotiating on price, this gives you something to work with. Try for 50%.

If you own the gun, and the name is of a cherished relative, the gun is priceless.

If you are a collector, the piece is now defiled.

If you are a shooter, functionality is not impaired.

I would describe the engraving as "rustic calligraphy". Probably engraved by the owner himself, not famous nor known to me.

Was for sale, has since sold, but not to me. Still not sure if the person who bought it did me a favour...or not...

I have been collecting long enough that I should go for quality over quantity. But, I have a weakness for Triple Lock revolvers!

In the case of a Triple Lock, otherwise not abused, but showing normal wear, I don't think it would make any difference in price to me. The name/engraving would be part of its history and wouldn't bother me much. I have a S sn 27-2 3.5 inch in great condition other than DL number etched on the frame under the stocks; doesn't bother me although had I known it was there I might have tried to negotiate the price a bit. Have a well used Outdoorsman from 1937 with the owner's name carved in to the bottom of the stocks; just history for the gun. Most recent one is a Registered Magnum from 1937 with an inscription on the barrel noting it was a gift from members of a military unit to their commander. One might say that its a bit unsightly given the gun is about 98% otherwise, but the history it imbues is worth quite a bit to me. In this case the "engraving" actually enhances the value, at least for me. I think I would have been trying to buy the Triple Lock you mention. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Age has a lot to do with it.

As a general rule, the older the gun, the more likely an engraved name might actually entice a buyer interested in provenance.

Example: In the 1910s and 1920s, it was more fashionable than at other times for police officers to engrave (or have someone engrave) their name on the frame or sideplate. I’d pay (and have paid) more for such a gun than a run-of-the-mill common gun. The reason: Provenance.

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Also, to me, some of the .455 Webley revolvers with the British serviceman's name experly engraved doesn't detract and gives a name to research, for the History of the revolver. Not sure about this one, though. Engraving could be early or decades later. Had I had the opportunity I likely would have bought it.

Is it okay to reveal the source?

Yes, now that it's sold.

Unprofessionally engraved names affect value much less when under the grips.

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Jim
S&WCA #819

It was the Target Model Triple Lock posted in the classifieds section of this forum yesterday at 5:06 pm for $2000; sold 35 minutes later, at 5:41 pm. Also an initial carved in the non medallion portion of the non medallion grip. Unfortunately, I did not log into the classifieds section of this forum during those 35 minutes or I likely might have bought it. Against better sense--or not?

I am fairly open about what I pay for a revolver for better or worse. Others are very sensitive about this. Once, on this quasi-anonymous forum I revealed what someone paid for the subject matter of their thread, as it had sold at public auction, and that individual demanded I remove that information from that thread, which I did.

I hope I don't get shot! Most who are on this forum are armed...

I happened to see the post for the TL target a few minutes after it sold. I went, hmmm...., what does the inscription do for the price? I quickly decided, being a target model, that the price was fair. For a non-target model, perhaps $500 high.

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Some collect art; I shoot it!

Yes, I saw that one too. . . .after someone hit the "I'll take it" button. I don't know much about Triple Lock prices but know I want one and target models don't show up very often. I thought the price was great and the "engraving" wouldn't have bothered me at all on that one.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

I took a look at the thread, seemed to be a fair price considering how crazy the prices seem to be going, even if it was a factory conversion done at a later date. I like my 2nd model H.E. that was converted to a target by the factory back in the 60's, I paid a price for it that I felt was proper considering it was in an altered state. Mine went back for the target conversion and then a month later went back for a complete refinish, I suppose it was went back for him to see if he was satisfied and upon satisfaction was sent back for the complete refinish. At least the inscription was tastefully done and not one of those obvious electro pen jobs that have me running for my bullwhip.

I am surprised that the other messages do not mention that the person named makes a big difference. Is it Joe Blow or Franklin Roosevelt? There would be thousands of dollars difference between those two guns.

That's an interesting concept. If engraved with a name like FDR (or, better yet, TR), and there was documentation to prove it, the value of the Triple Lock increases immensly. If such name exists engraved, without documentation, it wouldn't add any value, and might even decrease value significantly for being faked/defaced. I would probably value guess than a Triple Lock engraved "Ed Schuller", the name of the owner of the firearm that is the subject matter of this thread.

Yes, I think, for what it is (a Triple Lock Target Model identified with the owner's name in "rustic calligraphy"), the price was "fair". If it was available I probably would have responded "I'll take it!". Anything more than that ($2000), I would seriously have to pause and think "how badly do I want it?".

However...one would need to have ample documentation or provenance proving that the T.R. stood for Theodore Roosevelt and not Terence Rutherford. I have a Remington Rolling Block pistol that was owned by a local gunsmith who got it from one of the old boys that he used to shoot black powder muzzle loaders with. The old boys name was D.B. Cooper, and he was obviously not the infamous D.B. Cooper. I knew about our D.B. Cooper but was all the same very surprised when I pulled the grips off and found D.B. Cooper neatly stenciled on the grips, I've showed it to a few people and enjoyed the reaction, everybody over the age of 40 or so knows about the infamous D.B. Cooper, he's legendary around here. I let them know about "our" D.B. Cooper but its funny the way people react when they see the name.

That one sold for $2k in a hurry.
So what have other TL Targets sold for recently in the same condition/configuration w/o any engraved name or inscriptions..

If there are any to compare it to, that'd tell you wether the price of the latest sale was high or low or maybe right in there with the others and that the engraved name didn't seem to matter at all.


I'd guess it didn't make much difference in this particular instance because of what it is (T/L Target).
That wouldn't necessarily hold true as a strict rule for every firearm of course.


The last T/L I bought has a 4 1/4" bbl w/no front sight ,,cut down from 6.
Paid $400 for it. So I don't have much to compare it with.

What, the three dozen Target Model Triple Lock revolvers currently for sale in similar condition, 5 or 6 of which contain after market engraving, LOL!