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Gretschguy1637

Gretschguy1637

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Years ago, when I was visiting the Reno area, I stopped at a local sporting goods store.I found a model 28 that was on the bottom shelf of a display case that quickly drew my attention to it was the engraving and the gold accents.

The manager of the gun room who was the current owner, gave me a long story about how he purchased it. He told me he got it during an estate sale from the family of a CHP deputy chief. According to the family, their father had been in charge of the honor guard and it was a ceremonial gun that he used for special occasions when he was presented in uniform.

I handled the gun & was amazed at the intricacy of the engraving. I saw the gun on a Wednesday wrestled with buying it all night. It was not cheap at least not by the standards of the late 90s. My wife at the time God bless her said go for it. It would haunt me if I didn’t buy it. So I went back to the firearms place made an offer which was accepted in the gun has been in my position ever ever since. I have posted once before on the forum concerning this particular gun. I have yet to find out who the engraver was. I have a Smith & Wesson letter that said it was policy during that time NOT to engrave the model. I have had many on this forum suggest places to look, but I’ve gone over the gun multiple times with the magnifying glass. I cannot find any identifying marks other than standard factory. And just a sweeten the pot a little bit everything in gold is 14 karat..

If anyone has any suggestions on the engraver, I would love to know. I hope that the original owner would be happy that someone in his profession found his gun and is taking good care of it lo these many years
 

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I believe that's the first engraved Highway Patrolman I've seen, and it was very nicely done! I love the rattlesnake! The front sight was modified too. Definitely a first year HP...my 4" (S114481; July/Aug 1954) is just a couple of months older than yours. I'm afraid that I can't help with the identity of the engraver, but he/she did some nice work. I assume that you checked under the stocks and on the grip frame for the engraver's name or initials? It may be signed somewhere, or perhaps the rattlesnake and coyote are his signature. Great piece, and good luck!
 
Would be nice if all engravers marked their work but sadly that is not always the case. And S&W usually didn't want their in house engravers to mark factory engraving. I have several on which I can find no mark at all. On the other hand there are some that are marked, usually with initials, but so far the engraver's remain unidentified. Sometimes the engraver's mark is there, but hidden in the engraving so as to be almost impossible to identify if you don't know what you're looking for and where to look. The engraver's mark is clearly visible in this photo, can you find it?

IMG_2180.webp
 
22hipower said:
Would be nice if all engravers marked their work but sadly that is not always the case. And S&W usually didn't want their in house engravers to mark factory engraving. I have several on which I can find no mark at all. On the other hand there are some that are marked, usually with initials, but so far the engraver's remain unidentified. Sometimes the engraver's mark is there, but hidden in the engraving so as to be almost impossible to identify if you don't know what you're looking for and where to look. The engraver's mark is clearly visible in this photo, can you find it?

View attachment 900333
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Yes,the initial H , on the side plate just behind the trigger and near the hand grip.😎yeahhhh!!!!
 
Wow, that’s a beauty. I’d like a better look at grips. And a shot of the whole gun at once……. I’ve often wondered if all engravers are gun guys/gals or if any are just artist with no interest in their canvass
 
Magnificent. What a piece of history and art. So glad it went to someone who well appreciates it. Honor guards are to salute heroism and sacrifice, so your pistol is steeped in reverence.
 
I think you meant to say that it was S&W’s policy not to NAME any engraver who did their guns at that particular time, as opposed to any particular model? Colt was kinda like that as well I think? Not sure of the reasoning behind it, though, maybe RKMesa can elaborate perhaps?

Me personally, I’d much rather an engraver sign their work, very discreetly if possible, somewhere. And I know some of them do indeed do this, so well in fact you’d literally have to use a microscope to see their calling cards.

BTW found both of Heide's signature H's but the second one could have been a lot trickier if she had decided to hide it in among those tree branches. :)

Tom
 
FZ1Tom said:
I think you meant to say that it was S&W’s policy not to NAME any engraver who did their guns at that particular time, as opposed to any particular model? Colt was kinda like that as well I think? Not sure of the reasoning behind it, though, maybe RKMesa can elaborate perhaps?

Me personally, I’d much rather an engraver sign their work, very discreetly if possible, somewhere. And I know some of them do indeed do this, so well in fact you’d literally have to use a microscope to see their calling cards.

BTW found both of Heide's signature H's but the second one could have been a lot trickier if she had decided to hide it in among those tree branches. :)

Tom
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I wish the engraver whoever they were would’ve signed their work, but it is what it is. As to its pedigree it specifically says in a letter that I received from Mr. Jenks that it was Smith & Wesson policy at that time
not to engrave model 28s. Why he didn’t say, but I
Gretschguy1637 said:
Years ago, when I was visiting the Reno area, I stopped at a local sporting goods store.I found a model 28 that was on the bottom shelf of a display case that quickly drew my attention to it was the engraving and the gold accents.

The manager of the gun room who was the current owner, gave me a long story about how he purchased it. He told me he got it during an estate sale from the family of a CHP deputy chief. According to the family, their father had been in charge of the honor guard and it was a ceremonial gun that he used for special occasions when he was presented in uniform.

I handled the gun & was amazed at the intricacy of the engraving. I saw the gun on a Wednesday wrestled with buying it all night. It was not cheap at least not by the standards of the late 90s. My wife at the time God bless her said go for it. It would haunt me if I didn’t buy it. So I went back to the firearms place made an offer which was accepted in the gun has been in my position ever ever since. I have posted once before on the forum concerning this particular gun. I have yet to find out who the engraver was. I have a Smith & Wesson letter that said it was policy during that time NOT to engrave the model. I have had many on this forum suggest places to look, but I’ve gone over the gun multiple times with the magnifying glass. I cannot find any identifying marks other than standard factory. And just a sweeten the pot a little bit everything in gold is 14 karat..

If anyone has any suggestions on the engraver, I would love to know. I hope that the original owner would be happy that someone in his profession found his gun and is taking good care of it lo these
Click to expand...
think that Smith & Wesson wanted to save that for for the model #27, it being the fancier gun. Who knows?


As to the Honor Guard I was proud to accept a position on our team and proudly serve red for two years

IMG_4424.webp guard and the symbolism behind that, I served two years on the honor guard detail for my agency and was proud to do so…
KUN-540
 

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22hipower said:
No, a 2nd Model 44, the one with the polar bear is a Triplelock and the one with the Viking ship is a M53.
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Thanks. I have a 1917 Army that at one time thought of having it engraved but didn't. That looks nice and the gun I have I inherited it when my father died in 1966 a week before my 13th birthday. I decided to keep it as it was. I did change the stocks from Magnas to barkless elk stags.
 
A barbecue gun is your fanciest firearm which is generally reserved for special occasions, intended as a wordless display, and worn openly and without comment at said functions. It should be of impeccable make, quality, and provenance, preferably engraved by a master; gold inlay is optional. It can be any handgun, though revolvers predominate; even in Texas showing up to a BBQ with a gold-plated Garand slung over your shoulder is considered ostentatious. Of almost equal importance to the gun itself is its holster. These should be hand-tooled and custom-fit by a well-known master, and the gunbelt and pants belt should of course match. You should have waited at least a year for delivery. I could go on with nuancing but hopefully you get the point. You will find that if you execute this properly your credit score will increase ten percent within a week.
 
Venom6 said:
A barbecue gun is your fanciest firearm which is generally reserved for special occasions, intended as a wordless display, and worn openly and without comment at said functions. It should be of impeccable make, quality, and provenance, preferably engraved by a master; gold inlay is optional. It can be any handgun, though revolvers predominate; even in Texas showing up to a BBQ with a gold-plated Garand slung over your shoulder is considered ostentatious. Of almost equal importance to the gun itself is its holster. These should be hand-tooled and custom-fit by a well-known master, and the gunbelt and pants belt should of course match. You should have waited at least a year for delivery. I could go on with nuancing but hopefully you get the point. You will find that if you execute this properly your credit score will increase ten percent within a week.
Click to expand...
interesting, thanks for the insight. Im obviously a dinosaur when it comes to modern gun slang.

I can't imagine particulary wearing any fancy firearm for a barbecue, either a private function or restuarant. If, and I say IF I was gonna ONLY carry something of that nature on special occassion, there are far more appropirate places or occasions it would seem to me.....But of course as an engraver, I come from the totally opposite school of thought, that you should wear/use/carry your best/finest firearm on all occasions possible .
 
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