Art Doc
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Great gun. Great history.
But God is it ugly.
But God is it ugly.
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Another old "Pawn Shop" engraved W&K comes to the surface
- Thread starter bettis1
- Start date
SaxonPig said:
And at the same time - what a beauty, huh?
Without the provenance, it would just be a good shooter that had been 'defaced' (in the eyes of the "Average Joe"). The story that goes along with it takes us to back to a much simpler day and time....
Bob, you've outdone yerself, pard.
Mark
panamajack310
Member
That is awsome thanks for sharing with us.
Marksman
Member
I had an uncle that was an LEO during that same time period, while not fortunate enough to have his revolver I do have his parade baton. It is made out of rosewood with an elaborately carved handle and fancy braided cord. My mother walked to nursing school in the late '30's through the area where my uncle walked his beat.
Hello Bob
Excellent Catch. It is very Interesting to me that Geographical Location seemed to be a deciding factor of Caliber back in those days. The Regulation Police I have in .32 S&W Long can be considered a Mouse gun to that one, that Harry Anderson The Evansville, Indiana Police Chief carried in the late 1920's time span. oddly, Thugs and Mafia figures were more Prevalent in the Upper North Region {Indiana, Chicago & Such} of the United States back then, Yet Police carried .32 S&W Long caliber weapons for protection. Kind of sounds like suicide to me... Hammerdown
Excellent Catch. It is very Interesting to me that Geographical Location seemed to be a deciding factor of Caliber back in those days. The Regulation Police I have in .32 S&W Long can be considered a Mouse gun to that one, that Harry Anderson The Evansville, Indiana Police Chief carried in the late 1920's time span. oddly, Thugs and Mafia figures were more Prevalent in the Upper North Region {Indiana, Chicago & Such} of the United States back then, Yet Police carried .32 S&W Long caliber weapons for protection. Kind of sounds like suicide to me... Hammerdown
I'm not sure just who first attached the term "Pawn Shop" engraving to this style (I believe that our mentor, Ed C., is the first that I heard use it so until told otherwise, he gets the honor.) That is a pretty good term because it immediately denotes a little declasse version of a common item. Additionally, and most importantly, the originator of the style was actually...wait for it now...a pawn shop!
Rather than just grossly applying SP's tag of "ugly", I might describe the style as kitsch. There is no question that when compared with the classic engraving styles of Gustave Young, the Ulrich family, Cuno Helfricht, etc. this style is aesthetically deficient. If this was a "one off" example it could be dismissed as an abuse of a gun. On the other hand, the fact that it is represented multiple times, I think that the style can be called an excellent example of a truly American art form. In the art world, it would be like comparing the primitive style of Grandma Moses to one of the classic old world artists.
What is interesting is to try to determine just how and why it evolved as a "style". We are pretty comfortable in saying at this point that Wolf and Klar, a large jewelry store/pawn shop in Fort Worth was the most prolific supplier of this style. W&K marketed their wares specifically to prominent folks in the southwest such as lawmen, oilmen, and cattlemen. These folks were, almost as a group, type A personalities. They were gregarious, ostentatious and "in your face" with their personalities and lifestyles. Many times their economic condition was a real roller coaster ride. When they came into a gusher or sold a herd or pinned on a badge, they often wanted to get some indication of their new found stature. Because of the distance and time between the market center of Fort Worth and the social center of the east coast, having the Factory produce a classically engraved gun was out of the question. They walked into W&K, laid some cash on the counter, and walked out with a shiny new toy. What we now call instant gratification.
What say you all?
Bob
Rather than just grossly applying SP's tag of "ugly", I might describe the style as kitsch. There is no question that when compared with the classic engraving styles of Gustave Young, the Ulrich family, Cuno Helfricht, etc. this style is aesthetically deficient. If this was a "one off" example it could be dismissed as an abuse of a gun. On the other hand, the fact that it is represented multiple times, I think that the style can be called an excellent example of a truly American art form. In the art world, it would be like comparing the primitive style of Grandma Moses to one of the classic old world artists.
What is interesting is to try to determine just how and why it evolved as a "style". We are pretty comfortable in saying at this point that Wolf and Klar, a large jewelry store/pawn shop in Fort Worth was the most prolific supplier of this style. W&K marketed their wares specifically to prominent folks in the southwest such as lawmen, oilmen, and cattlemen. These folks were, almost as a group, type A personalities. They were gregarious, ostentatious and "in your face" with their personalities and lifestyles. Many times their economic condition was a real roller coaster ride. When they came into a gusher or sold a herd or pinned on a badge, they often wanted to get some indication of their new found stature. Because of the distance and time between the market center of Fort Worth and the social center of the east coast, having the Factory produce a classically engraved gun was out of the question. They walked into W&K, laid some cash on the counter, and walked out with a shiny new toy. What we now call instant gratification.
What say you all?
Bob
kwill1911
SWCA Member
Bob,
I agree with you. I just recently looked at a pre-war Colt Super Match and a National Match, both nickeled after they left the factory and both belonged to Texas Lawmen. The Rangers were the best/worst about this--some Ranger guns have the gaudiest, most poorly executed engraving, plating, hammered on silver work, etc.
Neat revolver/provenance. You have all the best toys.
Regards,
Kevin Williams
I agree with you. I just recently looked at a pre-war Colt Super Match and a National Match, both nickeled after they left the factory and both belonged to Texas Lawmen. The Rangers were the best/worst about this--some Ranger guns have the gaudiest, most poorly executed engraving, plating, hammered on silver work, etc.
Neat revolver/provenance. You have all the best toys.
Regards,
Kevin Williams
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I love it.
Bob, remember that 38 M&P I had at Tulsa a couple of years back that was W&K engraved? I have not seen another K frame since. Do you encounter any?
On the history- very interesting.
I would love to know more- like how did that crowd get past FOUR Rangers???
Bob, remember that 38 M&P I had at Tulsa a couple of years back that was W&K engraved? I have not seen another K frame since. Do you encounter any?
On the history- very interesting.
I would love to know more- like how did that crowd get past FOUR Rangers???
Lee,
I have an old "junk" collector friend who has a K frame that is "Pawn Shop" engraved that is documented to have belonged to a Chief of the Ft. Worth PD. However, he thinks it is worth more than I do so I haven't been able to pick it up yet...still trying though.
Regarding the story about the happenings in Sherman, I'll quote from the story in Lone Wolf Gonzaullas, Texas Ranger by Brownson Malsch:
"Captain Hamer told Judge Carter (the trial judge of the black man charged with the rape) that in his opinion, the trial could not be continued in Sherman without blood being shed. The judge announced that a change of venue would be ordered and pandemonium ensued when the crowd thought that the man they sought would be removed from their grasp.
At that point Hamer received a message from Governor Dan Moody that told him to 'protect the Negro if possible, but not to shoot anyone'. Captain Hamer was quoted as telling Judge Carter 'This means the mob will get the Negro'.
The mob leaders heard about the message and decided that the alleged instruction to Hamer would apply with equal force to the National Guardsmen. It was concluded that no matter the extreme to which the crowd might go, no one was in danger of being shot. That was judged to have been the turning point in the whole ugly affair. Tear gas was used but the only result was to further enrage the crowd.
The Grayson County Court House was masonry but the interior was dry old wood and gasoline was poured in a window and ignited. The 21 man Sherman fire department responded and attempted to fight the fire but as soon as they laid hoses, the hoses were slashed. Mob leaders allowed the firemen one sound hose to put out fires which ignited on adjacent buildings but warned that if the hose was turned toward the Court House, it would be cut."
An ugly page in the history of that community.
Bob
I have an old "junk" collector friend who has a K frame that is "Pawn Shop" engraved that is documented to have belonged to a Chief of the Ft. Worth PD. However, he thinks it is worth more than I do so I haven't been able to pick it up yet...still trying though.
Regarding the story about the happenings in Sherman, I'll quote from the story in Lone Wolf Gonzaullas, Texas Ranger by Brownson Malsch:
"Captain Hamer told Judge Carter (the trial judge of the black man charged with the rape) that in his opinion, the trial could not be continued in Sherman without blood being shed. The judge announced that a change of venue would be ordered and pandemonium ensued when the crowd thought that the man they sought would be removed from their grasp.
At that point Hamer received a message from Governor Dan Moody that told him to 'protect the Negro if possible, but not to shoot anyone'. Captain Hamer was quoted as telling Judge Carter 'This means the mob will get the Negro'.
The mob leaders heard about the message and decided that the alleged instruction to Hamer would apply with equal force to the National Guardsmen. It was concluded that no matter the extreme to which the crowd might go, no one was in danger of being shot. That was judged to have been the turning point in the whole ugly affair. Tear gas was used but the only result was to further enrage the crowd.
The Grayson County Court House was masonry but the interior was dry old wood and gasoline was poured in a window and ignited. The 21 man Sherman fire department responded and attempted to fight the fire but as soon as they laid hoses, the hoses were slashed. Mob leaders allowed the firemen one sound hose to put out fires which ignited on adjacent buildings but warned that if the hose was turned toward the Court House, it would be cut."
An ugly page in the history of that community.
Bob
Combat_Diver
US Veteran
I used to spend my teenage summers in and around Kerrville.
Bob-Great find and story
CD
Bob-Great find and story
CD
Dan,
I just went back looking for your guns and they are gone! Please put them back and tell us some of the details of them. I think that this is a good gathering place for whatever we know or surmise on this style. I hope that you, Dave, Ed, and anyone else who might have them will show them and maybe we can draw some more conclusions about the style.
Bob
I just went back looking for your guns and they are gone! Please put them back and tell us some of the details of them. I think that this is a good gathering place for whatever we know or surmise on this style. I hope that you, Dave, Ed, and anyone else who might have them will show them and maybe we can draw some more conclusions about the style.
Bob
Bob,
I deleted the picture because I felt like I was trying to steal your thread about this special gun of yours. I am trying to take some more pictures of guns that will show some of what I was talking about as far as sideplate engraving designs. I sure wish that I lived in the Fort Worth area. I would spend every extra hour researching W&K.
Ok Here it is one more time.
I deleted the picture because I felt like I was trying to steal your thread about this special gun of yours. I am trying to take some more pictures of guns that will show some of what I was talking about as far as sideplate engraving designs. I sure wish that I lived in the Fort Worth area. I would spend every extra hour researching W&K.
Ok Here it is one more time.
Last edited:
ajpelz
Member
Great gun and even better story and documentation. Very rare to have such old and solid proof as to a gun's history. Quite special.
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Helluva story!
I suppose the prisoner died in the fire?
I suppose the prisoner died in the fire?
allright Bob,
The sideplate pattern on your gun is one that I have seen most of. I am posting pictures of 2 more with the same pattern but I have seen at least 2 or 3 more with the same pattern.
This one unfired since it was engraved
This one is attributted to a Deputy Sheriff in Comal County Texas
And yours
It would seem that they had a pattern Book a Ranger could pick out what they wanted.
here is a picture of Lee's ol 38 M&P that letters to W&K and a 2nd Model 44 that I haven't lettered yet, they have a pattern that matches and I have seen 1 more like these.
This set of guns is what I figure was their more elaborate engraving pattern what I would call full coverage if that is what you would call it.
add this 38 M&P to this 3some for a 4some
I would sure like to hear from some of the others with these guns. I will do a post later with Steerhead pearlies.
The sideplate pattern on your gun is one that I have seen most of. I am posting pictures of 2 more with the same pattern but I have seen at least 2 or 3 more with the same pattern.
This one unfired since it was engraved
This one is attributted to a Deputy Sheriff in Comal County Texas
And yours
It would seem that they had a pattern Book a Ranger could pick out what they wanted.
here is a picture of Lee's ol 38 M&P that letters to W&K and a 2nd Model 44 that I haven't lettered yet, they have a pattern that matches and I have seen 1 more like these.
This set of guns is what I figure was their more elaborate engraving pattern what I would call full coverage if that is what you would call it.
add this 38 M&P to this 3some for a 4some
I would sure like to hear from some of the others with these guns. I will do a post later with Steerhead pearlies.
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DWFAN
US Veteran
I couldn't offend Bob by saying that, but you did it for me. Butt ugly came to mind.
To say the owner was proud of it is evident by the way it was carried.
Has anyone ever determined weather W&K commissioned the engraving or was it the local Mexican jeweler?
DW
Paul,
Since I wasnt there I can't say for sure but I believe it was done in their Jewelry Shop side of the house. Maybe Uncle Ed can tell us from 1st hand experience
Since I wasnt there I can't say for sure but I believe it was done in their Jewelry Shop side of the house. Maybe Uncle Ed can tell us from 1st hand experience
29aholic
Member
I guess by the looke of these guns the engraving actually goes through the nickle?
Have any of these guns showed up with a blue finish?
Have any of these guns showed up with a blue finish?
