Looking at a new 44 mag revolver that is 100% coverage laser deep engraved. I have seen many engraved revolvers over the years but have never been that interested and I know nothing about them. I hear hand engraved, laser engraved, machine engraved, and then there are ratings on the level of engraved. Can someone just give me the Readers Digest version on what all this means? Thank You!

Beware that "laser engraved" revolvers can be a hard sell. It's a non-issue if you're buying one to keep for good, otherwise you won't get near the money you'll have to pay for a new one.

Hand engraved is the best. Machine engraved is the worst---and I don't know beans from apple butter about laser engraved---except for my knee-jerk reaction that it sounds a lot like "machine".

Now when I say the best, I'm talking about value---value as respects the cost to buy one---and value as respects sustained value. Hand engraved values are highly influenced by the artist--the better the reputation the higher the value---and very likely the rate the value appreciates. The value of work by a master is better than money in the bank!

That's a short course from one who's not even remotely qualified to present it. You want to be talking to Richard Garner (RKMesa hereabouts). He has, in the vernacular, Been There, and Done That! He has what is very likely the premier collection of EXTREMELY high quality engraved guns of anybody here. My best guess would be Bill Cross (Doc 44) runs a close second, but that's because I've seen what I suppose is a lot more of Garner's guns than I have Cross's. All of either's I've seen will knock your socks off---art work of the first rank!!

Ralph Tremaine

As an aside, I suspect "level of engraved" refers to the percentage of the surface area engraved. "Full coverage" translates to every place it has a place. That said, I've seen different levels of full coverage. Most recently, one of Garner's was FULL coverage---leaving no room for anything additional. Lest one suppose that might be regarded as gaudy, this one was anything but. S&W factory engraving was (and perhaps still is) labeled as A-B-C; A being full coverage. As to what's the most attractive, that's in the eye of the beholder. Again, one of Garner's recently shown was downright sparse when it comes to the area covered, but it was so tastefully done, it was enormously attractive.

I think Ralph covered it well. He didn't say much about values/prices though. I don't know much about the laser engraved guns although some I've seen lately on the auction sites do look interesting. I wouldn't pay much more for a laser engraved gun though than I would for a non-engraved one.

The value of an engraved piece is in the quality of the art produced. It is amazing to me what the old, and some current, masters can do to steel with a hammer and chisel. For that art expect to pay $3k to $5k for an "unknown" engravers work. Double or triple or more for those known to have been completed by factory engravers (other than perhaps the Italian contract work from the early '80s) and other known masters. And if you find one with full coverage by Alvin White or some of the other old master engravers the price can run to $25k and more.

If you like a laser engraved piece, nothing wrong with that. But as Ralph says, there's not likely to be much appreciation and, as with many commemoratives, perhaps the value won't increase at all.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

Difficult to impossible to comment on an engraved 44 Magnum without seeing photos of it. However, all of the engraved 44 Magnums in my collection are hand engraved. If you want to add an engraved gun to your collection, I would stay away from laser and machine engraved.

S&W engravers produce three standard levels of engraving, namely, A is full coverage, B is approximately two-thirds, and C approximately one-half coverage. They also do custom engraving with or without inlay of precious metals.

I have found over the years that guns that letter as factory engraved bring the best prices at resale (regardless of level of coverage).

Bill

Thank you Doc and others that commented.

Stay away from anything laser engraved. They do not hold their value and, in all honestly, actually would devalue it quite a bit. Hand engraving is what you would want, and if it's done from the factory or through the factory by one its its engravers they used adds quite a bit of value. Some real good non factory engraved guns being engraved by a prominent master engraver would add a lot of value as well.

Eric

Sent from my SM-A516U using Tapatalk

This is "old news" as respects the time passed since I saw it------likely 25 years ago, but here sits a K-22 1st ("Outdoorsman")---and it is STUNNING!!!!

It is accompanied by the artist's COMPLETE set of drawings--done before he even thought about picking up his cutting tools. They too are STUNNING!!!!

The asking price was $125,000.

The artist's name is Rudolph Kornbrath---speaking of old MASTERS.

Ralph Tremaine

Last year was the first time I ever bought an "engraved" revolver, one a Cimarron, the other a Colt Anaconda, neither hand done.

I bought them because I liked the way they looked, felt in the hand, and neither had a price uplift that was unpalatable.

I don't care anything about whether pistols so appointed are hard to sell I'll leave re-selling to my son some day.

A true hand engraved revolver (or any firearm for that matter) is a work of art, certainly never 100% perfect and a labor of love. It is a slow process that needs to be done by a competent artist, craftsmen and engravers with a lot of experience - not to mention natural talent and ability.

IMHO laser engraving, roll marking or chasing is NOT the same! I have never had any interest in a wanna-be method just for the purposes of saving money. My concept has always been either I buy the real deal or save up enough to get what I want by working harder and or smarter.

Some people are OK with non hand engraving, but not me. I'd rather have a Plain Jane revolver in as new or excellent condition than a laser engraved gun - that's just me of course.

The firearm I am looking at is a new stainless 44 magnum. The laser engraving is extremely deep 3 D. not that light mark ****. 100% coverage cost is about $600.00 above the plain gun. What say you?

If I really liked it I would buy it.
Look at it like this, if you don't buy it you'll forever regret it.

Maybe it's fair to say that we collect and acquire for different reasons and interests.
Some focus on pristine original classics while others just like "pretty".
For others their collection represents an investment.

A realistic appreciation of the revolver for what it is, not a comparison to something it's not.

As with anything else S&W if you like it buy it. But don't expect laser engraving to increase in value. In fact, if I were buying it I'd expect not only to not increase but possibly to be worth less than you paid for it, as with some commemorative pieces, years after you buy it. But if you like it who cares about the value to others, enjoy it for what it is. That said, a hand engraved gun by a master engraver is a one of a kind piece of art. It is truly amazing what a master engraver can do to steel with a hammer and chisel. One of those will cost a lot more than will a laser engraved piece, but it will be worth it.

Jeff
SWCA #1457