I have a 4-inch Model 624 .44 Special that I dearly love. I've been thinking about having it engraved. I like the looks of engraved blued revolvers, but I've never seen enough stainless guns that are engraved to know how they look, or what type of engraving looks good on them. I'd love to see photos of engraved stainless revolvers so I can decide what I should do.

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SWCA 2379

Here is a S&W M657 that I had Factory Class "A" Engraved.
Fine Line and High Polished.

WOW!!!! that is a beautiful revolver.....Unfortunately I will probably never own a factory engraved revolver...or custom engraved revolver for that matter...I am just too poor...Police do not get paid enough to collect beautiful pieces like that...

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M.J.Hanna

Like the owner of the local gunshop told me, when it comes to guns the average American can own anything he wants, he just can't own EVERYTHING he wants. Figure that a good hunting rifle with a good scope (say a Remington 700 XCR with a Leupold 2.5x-8x) will run a person about $1,500. All a person has to do is not buy two rifles and they will have enough money to have a decent Smith & Wesson factory engraving job. You can have an engraved Smith & Wesson if you are willing to forego something else. This is what I have decided to do.

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SWCA 2379

You might be surprised by the number of folks in the shooting family, who don't buy $1,500 rifle/scope combinations or Leupold scopes.

For many of us, it's more likely a Marlin or a Mossberg with a Bushnell or BSA scope.

WE'RE the ones who will never likely have a factory engraved handgun. We're already making tough tradeoffs just to get the guns we can 'afford'.

.

In my case a used Marlin that may or may not come with a scope for about $300.00

$3000.00 is way out of my price range.(in my case) If I had $3000.00 to spend I would be buying $3000 worth used revolvers....

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M.J.Hanna

66-1 all scratched up by the factory:

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Richard
Engraved S&W fan

Like I said, it is all a matter of life priorities. If you would rather spend the $3,000 on used revolvers, then that is your priority. I know that some people can't afford $3,000, but more can than who are willing to admit it. My wife and I drive paid for 10 year old vehicles, seldom eat out, don't smoke or drink (two VERY expensive habits), chose not to have kids, don't invest in stocks and bonds, don't ski, don't own a boat, don't watch movies outside of the house, didn't buy as expensive of a house as the bankers said we could afford, don't have fancy furniture, and don't do a whole bunch of other things that many people do. We do buy guns. I AM very lucky because I have a wife who has the same priorities I do. My wife shoots competitively with me and also buys guns. Few men have this luxury, and I know it. If you REALLY want something, most people can figure out a way to afford it. That is why my friend said most people can have anything they want when it comes to guns, just not everything they want. This may not apply to fancy double rifles that cost more than a house, but most guns aren't that expensive. An engraved Model 60 S&W costs about $1,900. It may take a few years to come up with a spare $1,900 and your prioritiy for $1,900 may not be to buy an engraved Model 60. Most could do it if it was their priority and they set their mind to it, however. If this isn't your priority, that is OK and there is nothing wrong with that. An engraved Smith & Wesson is something I've always wanted, and I'm going to try to get one if I can. I'll probably only have one, however, so I need to make sure I do it right the first time.

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SWCA 2379

Very Well Stated WS.
It's all about enjoying yourself along the way.

I only have one stainless engraved S&W, it was not done by the factory. It is this little 686 snubby. Now I have had this one for 15+ years, but at the time it cost me well under $1,000.


There are many good values that come up in engraved factory firearms as well. 3 or 4 years ago during the Texas Hold 'EM poker craze, S&W produced a nice little revolver based on the model 36.


The package included a lightly engraved (class "C") model 36 with the gold barrel and cylinder bands and the Dead Man's Hand in gold on the side of the revolver. It wore faux Ivory grips and came in a glass top display case that held S&W poker chips and playing cards.


At the time MSRP was just over $1,000, but a plain Jane model 36 had an MSRP of more than $700 at the time. Now we all know that nobody pays MSRP for their firearms.

So here S&W produced a cute little revolver that had a street price of about $225 more than it's plain Jane counterpart. I thought it was a real value and bought one.

Last year (I think) there was a Friends of the NRA model 442 that S&W produced. It also had roughly Class "C" engraving coverage. The side plate logo was the NRA logo. There was no gold but it did have the display case. These were available for around $475 at the time. I have one but did not photograph it yet.

Engraved firearms are not for everyone, but if you like them, there are some deals to be had. The point is, there are lots of GREAT engraved revolvers for under $3,000, just keep your eyes open.

Factory engraving is 2-3 times more expensive than that by an independent artist. If you don't care about the "factory" label, you can get some really nice work done for relatively little. I got this Colt engraved for the same amount as I paid for the gun.

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Tom

Do you have any names and contact information for any non-factory engravers? I'd really appreciate having some. Your handgun is BEAUTIFUL!

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SWCA 2379

Although minimally engraved ,
Does this count?

Just do a Google search for gun engraving. My gun was done by Jeff Flannery, in Kentucky.

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Tom

Yup! I think it counts. Nice gun! Thank you, and thank everyone who has shown their engraved guns! I'd like to see more and get more ideas. Thanks again!

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SWCA 2379

Hey if any of you guys could give a list of engravers that would be great...I might just listen to WS and eat cheese sandwiches for a month or 2 and get one engraved....

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M.J.Hanna

S&W Mdl 60, engraved by Jeff Flannery, bought on GB in 2007 for $1225. In correspondence with Jeff, he said that a similar engraving job would be about $1000. The second gun is a S&W Mdl 66 bought on Gunbroker in 2009 for $1000, engraver unknown. There are affordable engraved guns out there. I have more that aren't SS that were purchased for under $2000!

I am thinking about a model 642 engraved for my daughter and a 1911 for my son for when they turn approprate age and this is pushing hard in that direction

Here is a list of engravers websites, there are more engravers out there.

Lots of eye candy here:

http://www.nutmegsports.com/
http://www.flannerygunengraving.com/
http://dangeloengraving.com/
http://www.dwharris.com/engraving.htm
http://www.weldonlister.com/
http://www.thegunengraver.com/
http://www.gunfancy.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/va2/engraver/
http://www.vtgunsmiths.com/adams/jaeindex.html
http://www.dcengraving.com/
http://www.ottocarter.com/engraving.html
http://www.grengraving.com/
http://gunengraver.biz/index.html
http://www.mtart.com/
http://www.kguns.com/
http://www.drengraving.com/
http://users.commspeed.net/ttwhite/
http://www.stephenolin.com/
http://www.bradshawgunengraver.com/photogallery.html
http://www.lindsayengraving.com/
http://azcarver.com/Home.html
http://www.ralphingle.com/
http://www.lgartistry.com/
http://www.francolini.com/
http://www.masterengraver.com/

38 S&W Terrier:


44Mag S&W 29-2


22rf S&W K-22 Masterpiece:


38 Spl S&W K-38 Masterpiece:


32 Mag S&W 632:


38 Spl S&W 36:


38 Spl S&W Centennial:

Holy ****!!!

44-40 Colt SAA;


32-20 Colt SAA:


45 Colt SAA:


38 Spl Colt Officers Model Target:


25 Colt Auto:


38 Spl Colt Official Police:


38 Spl Colt Detective Special:


22rf Colt Woodsman:


38 Colt Detective Special:


38 Colt Detective Special:


38 Colt Police Positive:


45 Colt Govt Mdl:


45 Colt Auto with 22 Conv Unit:


380 Walther PPKS:


36 cal Pietta Texas Paterson:

ok THAT collection is unbelievable

wayne d'angelo frequents this forum.

another forum member has some guns done by michael gouse http://www.mtart.com/goufl.htm

his prices seem very reasonable compared to the work seen in photos.

cost is relative. if that engraved gun will bring you pleasure for many years every time you hold / shoot it, compared to the pleasure a 2$ coffee every day brings... its all about trade offs.

now getting your initials or name on it is like a tattoo. you better be prepared to have that gun forever becuase nobody wants a gun with somebody elses name on it. unless your famous

WOW.....simply WOW!!!!
I hate you guys you know that right......Now I really want an engraved gun to carry around.....LOL

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M.J.Hanna

Great stuff,Gator! Thanks for posting.

Nice pictures - There are some threads that would be nice to have tacked to the top of the page and preserved. Thanks for sharing the these beautiful pics!

That's the spirit! Seeing these beautiful handguns gives a guy a feeling in the pit of your stomach that makes you want one SO BAD! It is probably worse than drugs!

I probably need an engraved handgun like I need a hole in the head... please put the hole a little behind my left ear on an angle towards a point just in front of my right ear. I WANT an engraved Smith & Wesson!

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SWCA 2379

Many of us have info and pictures at www.FEGA.com , the website of the Firearms Engravers Guild of America. Just click on the 'Engravers and Photos" tab on the nav bar. If you are looking to have something engraved, it's a great place to start.

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David

Well, I guess I am going to take the plunge, I have contacted Michael Grouse and am going to let him scratch up my duty gun. I have a 3" 625 I am going to have him engrave my badge on the cover plate and do a 1/4 coverage of the gun....I will post pics when I get it back....

You guys need to be put in jail for feeding to my stupid addiction...you guys are like drug dealers handing me free samples saying;" look little boy it is so good for you NOW TAKE IT!!!!""

It is bad enough that I scrap what I can to get guns...

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M.J.Hanna

I think you have the fever worse than me... and I'm the guy that started this thread looking to see engraved stainless guns to get ideas on how to have my gun engraved! I think you and I would be good friends if we lived near each other!

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SWCA 2379

heres mine. i got her as a birthday present from my grandma several years ago. it was a gun that my grandpa had purchased many years ago and stuck in the safe. its never been fire.

You know, all this has inspired me to drag out my dremmel...but somehow I don't think the results will be quite the same....

factory engraved 625
I worked on it then sent it off to get it engraved. Being a laser etched model of 1989 I wanted the barrel marked what caliber it was, and it got over board. My camera skills need work...

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NRA Benefactor Member

Guns mag from 1970, I'd like to read it.

Nice gun, did you buy it that way?

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NRA Benefactor Member

Hi heres a S&W 629 all scratched up with gold inlays its not mine but i know where its sitting. They only want 6K for it a little to rich for me. But what a nice looking gun heres some pictures of it. Enjoy...

Rick

FEGA is a good starting place. I have had four guns done by Bob Evans, two for retirement gifts (M60, M66) and two M1911s--one about 1/4 coverage and one all out.

It pays to study up as there is engraving, and there is engraving. The Meek book from Brownell's is worth studying.

Here is mine. I wish I knew who did the work.

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All of these pics are beautiful. So much so that I hate to ask this question in the same post, but does anyone have any photo's of Smith's laser engraving? It's far less expensive than regular for obvious reasons but what does it look like?

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... ed ...

They are light lines like what you can do with a felt pen. They rub away very easily.
My 442 has the serial number marked on the butt stock.

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NRA Benefactor Member

is there any way of finding out how what type/when your revolver was made/engraved? ive got an engraved model 60 but i have no idea if its factory or what.

could you tell me who engraved your 32 magnum smith and Wesson model 632. I want buy a 640-1 and have it engraved in this style.
thanks.

who did the engraving on the 632?

Model 60-4 with engraving by Michael Gouse of Hamilton Montana.
Grips by forum member Schofieldkid81.

Mod 60 2 ln by factory. Don't know what year yet just got it. My new carry gun

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IMHO it looks from bad to awful.

Before you even THINK of having a gun engraved, pore over several years of the eng. guns in, Gun Digest.

If you can, visit the Beretta Galleries in NYC and in the Dallas suburb of Highland Park. View the engraved guns there, or at the NYC store of H&H. DO THIS before having any work done. There is some rather bad engraving seen in this very thread.

If animals are depicted, they should look JUST LIKE they do in real life. One engraver has posted photos here of a gold inlaid ram that looks too theatrical for the overall engraving.

WELL engraved guns are a joy and a delight to the informed eye. Many just do not meet that standard.

Factory class A.Model 66.
Dick

For my untrained eye, the screws tell the story. If the screws and pins are incorporated into the engraving the overall job looks better. If they are just engraved past, it looks like somebody just laid a pattern over the gun and traced it.