I have been coming across some interesting guns lately. This one was in a little shop in the middle of Utah. This gun wasn't for sale. The sotry goes that the store owner bought this for his wife. He was happy to purchase it through an auction sale that stated it had a connection to Elvis Presley. He told me that his wife wanted this gun instead of a Cadillac so it saved him a bit of money. I told him I would see if I could find out more about it and who possible did the engraving and grips.

You'll notice that those are real diamonds in the grips which are made of ivory. The gun has a serial number of J673,xxx. So it dates to around the period in the late 70's when the factory had done some engraving for Elvis. I showed these pics to the head of the S&W engraving department at the recent SHOT show in Vegas and who couldn't say either way if it was factory.

I wanted to share the phone pics and see if anyone had some insight into this particular model 36. Although it has a high bling factor, it was nicely done and didn't look like a gun that had been blued, scractched up, and then plated in gold. I wondered if it had been engraved in the white then plated as the work is very clean. Enjoy the pics.

Not my style but I do appreciate quality work.

It looks like someones (engravers perhaps?) mark in the frame just above and forward of the trigger. Out of focus in the first pic and just out of the pic in #2.
Looks like a mark or symbol bracketed by a decorative fantail type cut on either side.

What you are seeing is a "J". It would be unusual as an engravers mark since most engravers didn't sign their work so blatantly. I would imagine it has some other meaning.

I am wondering if someone here on the forum saw this gun when it was up for auction. No idea how long ago that was but may have been more than a few years ago.

I'm no expert but I am about 99% sure it is not factory engraving. I believe most engraved guns have the logo on the left. It also does not look like a factory pattern. It is rather garish and while it might have appealed to Elvis with his lack of good taste I would have to see some documentation before thinking for one second it was commissioned by him.

Very girly for sure. I thought the design on the grips was a bullet but maybe it's a tube of lipstick.

I have a custom 1911 I built with a diamond mounted on the right stock. But I think it looks quite handsome.

Don't discount the 'J' as an engravers mark.
I've seen much more blatant, larger and misplaced.

It may be the work of 'Joseph' (Joseph Joseph) Firearms engraver. Last I knew he was in Cody Wy.
He just goes by the one name,,seriously, he considers himself a citzen of the world.
Does engraving, painting, all sorts of arts. He signs his works 'Joseph' but a simple 'J might be appropriate on some pieces.
Diamonds, ivory, gold,,,that'd be something he'd do. But I'd expect better quality quite frankly.

Just a guess though that it's his work,,,

Now, I don't care what you say, that is a BBQ gun and a good'un.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

Daniel:

The mark on the side of the gun under the cylinder is "JF" for Jeff Flannery. I have the same mark on one of my guns confirmed by Jeff to be engraved by Jeff.

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

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.

Mesa
I like that a lot---a better example of a good BBQ gun.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

aye carumba!

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Cheers, Charles
SWCA #2442

Saddam's wife would have loved that one.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95