|
|
10-17-2020, 11:22 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 9,407
Likes: 1,323
Liked 30,495 Times in 4,374 Posts
|
|
More Factory Gold...photos added
plus custom engraving. S179009, ordered through Rex Firearms in New York by Raymond Vanyek, Los Angeles, CA in October 1957. This 44 Magnum was engraved in Germany and shipped to Rex Firearms by S&W on December 27, 1957. It was invoiced to Rex Firearms at $720.00, which is the most expensive S&W I could find in the records from the 1950s and 1960s. It is also the most heavily inlaid factory engraved gun made post-WW II I have seen. It took over 120 hours to complete.
S179479, given to Walter Sanborn, S&W Assistant Sales Manager, on May 9, 1958 who had the gun engraved through Rex Firearms by Alvin White. Mr. White also carved and inlaid the stocks with scrimshawed ivory diamonds. The 44 Magnum was then returned to Mr. Sanborn.
N629187, prototype Model 629, custom engraved and inlaid with gold in 2001 by Wayne D' Angelo. S&W, following the purchase by Safe-T-Hammer was eliminating its engraving department (but, only for a short time) and when the S&WCA met in Springfield, MA in 2001, the company decided to auction their stock of engraved guns to S&WCA members via a sealed bid. I purchased this revolver directly from S&W and it was shipped to my dealer in September 2001. This Model 629 was also featured on S&W's engraving brochure.
Click on each photo for a much better look (photos by Paul Goodwin).
Bill
Last edited by Doc44; 10-18-2020 at 09:13 AM.
|
The Following 64 Users Like Post:
|
1Aspenhill, 2152hq, 22/32 JDF, 230grfmj, Absalom, ancient-one, bgrafsr, bigmoose, bigwheelzip, Bill Bates, boykinlp, bracebeemer, Cjpetracca, Collects, CQB27, daddio202, Dave from Pa, delcrossv, DGT, Donald Paul, Gardner11, Geronimo Jim, Hugh WW, JayCeeNC, Jet guy, jimbo728, JohnRippert, JP@AK, KSK, Lee Barner, LPD256, ME94, metrotps, mh51, MrG5122, Muley Gil, Old_Cop, Ole PM, P.44, pawncop, quinn, Rad29, RevolverP320, RKmesa, robrossk, Rpg, Rusty parrot, SAFireman, Salox, Sandman4delta, SDH, series guy, Shooter Mike, Skippyjon Jones, sodacan, steelslaver, tenntex32, TennTony, Thinnes, usm1rifle, usmc2427765, wetdog, Wiregrassguy, xray97 |
10-17-2020, 11:29 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Rural mtns of So Cal
Posts: 507
Likes: 762
Liked 655 Times in 295 Posts
|
|
WOW!?!? That's all I can say! VERY nice.
|
10-17-2020, 11:34 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: North Central Texas
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 925
Liked 2,173 Times in 836 Posts
|
|
I wonder why did S&W auction off their entire stock of engraved guns? (Instead of offering them for normal sale through dealers, assuming they weren't doing that already?)
Were the examples they did auction off internal samples built for advertising/display/gifts to management or were they built for actual sale and were simply never bought?
Very nice examples either way, especially the example with engraved stocks having diamond ivory inlays.
Last edited by tenntex32; 10-17-2020 at 11:39 AM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
10-17-2020, 12:12 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Montana
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 2,064
Liked 3,137 Times in 644 Posts
|
|
Love the Rhino! Not particularly appropriate, but lovely none the less~looks very lifelike.
Is that a dead penguin with the Polar Bear?
Tarnish on the White scrollwork?
|
10-17-2020, 12:20 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2010
Location: The Steel City
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 6,827
Liked 4,405 Times in 1,409 Posts
|
|
As usual some pretty stunning examples. Thanks for sharing them.
|
10-17-2020, 01:00 PM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 9,407
Likes: 1,323
Liked 30,495 Times in 4,374 Posts
|
|
The only 44 Magnum purchased from the auction in 2001 is N629187. I think S&W was giving S&WCA members first shot at buying these guns. Any that did not sell were most likely sold through regular channels.
A dead seal is at the feet of the polar bear. Alvin White inlaid with gold and silver wire. Silver tarnishes over time. I little Wenol on a Q-tip takes care of it.
Why is a rhino not appropriate? Just curious as I have 44 Magnums with an elk, a moose, a grizzly, a wolverine, a Narwhal, or a Bengal tiger on their side plates and other animals located elsewhere on their frame (lynx, rattle snake, deer, quail).
Bill
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
10-17-2020, 01:14 PM
|
Banned
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Montana
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 2,064
Liked 3,137 Times in 644 Posts
|
|
Bill,
Wenol?
Appropriate in the eyes of the beholder~~
It really is a magnificent gold inlay on a spectacular revolver, What does the other side look like?
Thanks!
SDH
Last edited by SDH; 10-17-2020 at 01:18 PM.
|
10-17-2020, 04:12 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AZ
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 27,913
Liked 45,746 Times in 4,818 Posts
|
|
Bill:
Three beautiful guns. Thanks for sharing them with the rest of us. I always love it when you post your treasures.
__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
10-17-2020, 08:53 PM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AZ
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 27,913
Liked 45,746 Times in 4,818 Posts
|
|
Thanks for sharing the "other side".
__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan
|
10-17-2020, 09:10 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 3,411
Liked 3,159 Times in 1,026 Posts
|
|
Dear lord that is gorgeous!
__________________
This is the way....
|
12-19-2020, 07:39 AM
|
|
SWCA Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: AZ
Posts: 7,420
Likes: 27,913
Liked 45,746 Times in 4,818 Posts
|
|
Throwing this tread to the top - three beautiful guns in one thread - delightful on a Saturday morning.
__________________
Richard
Engraved S&W fan
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-19-2020, 09:56 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: indiana
Posts: 571
Likes: 655
Liked 548 Times in 308 Posts
|
|
Very nice,......Also what exactly is wenol..(never heard of it).......................M*
|
12-19-2020, 10:24 AM
|
|
Moderator
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 9,407
Likes: 1,323
Liked 30,495 Times in 4,374 Posts
|
|
Wenol (in the blue tube) is similar to Flitz, but I find it to be better for use on firearms finished in bright blue and nickel.
Bill
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-19-2020, 10:25 AM
|
|
Administrator
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 27,015
Likes: 8,994
Liked 48,765 Times in 9,260 Posts
|
|
Bill,
BEAUTIFUL!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SDH
Bill,
Wenol?
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mblhopo
Very nice,......Also what exactly is wenol..(never heard of it).......................M*
|
Easy to find sellers with Google.
The BLUE is the gentler variety. Red is more aggressive.
Click on Polishing Tips here-
WENOL Metal Polish :: Distributed by Enviro Cool
__________________
Regards,
Lee Jarrett
Last edited by handejector; 12-19-2020 at 10:35 AM.
|
The Following 6 Users Like Post:
|
|
12-25-2020, 05:55 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 133
Liked 1,609 Times in 518 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by SDH
Love the Rhino! Not particularly appropriate, but lovely none the less~looks very lifelike.
Is that a dead penguin with the Polar Bear?
Tarnish on the White scrollwork?
|
Honestly tried to refrain from responding, but.....
REALLY?!?
__________________
"You're messin' up my Zen"
|
12-25-2020, 06:46 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: TEXAS
Posts: 18,248
Likes: 7,989
Liked 5,675 Times in 2,190 Posts
|
|
Those are waaaay cool. I am not a huge fan of engraved firearms, I certainly appreciate the skill and talent that went in to that work.
__________________
I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
12-25-2020, 08:56 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 205
Likes: 383
Liked 112 Times in 52 Posts
|
|
With all the great engravers works to be seen, A.A. White's work has never been superceded on my list. A multi talented artist and one I would have liked to have known.
Thanks for sharing some of your collected gems.
|
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
|