Engraved Pre-war HD

[22hipower]

I'm still researching this new acquisition and would appreciate any information on Japanese engraving from the post WWII period. If you have examples please post them.

At this point I believe the engraving was most likely arranged by the individual whose name is engraved on the left side (Edward) E C Parks of Lee County Virginia. He was a young soldier born in 1928 who was KIA in the Korean War in February of 1951 (5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division). I have no information as to how the gun got back to his family after his death, or how he would have acquired a pre-war (1937/38) HD while serving in Japan and Korea. Possibly his family could have had the gun engraved after his death but given the Japanese engraving that seems unlikely.

The gun is in excellent condition and likely hasn't been fired since it was engraved and probably not much before. If anyone has other examples of engraved guns brought back by servicemen I'd love to see them. The grips are some pre-war magnas that I had as the stocks that came on it were somewhat funky hand carved targets probably made at the same time the engraving was done.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2odVZKV https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2odTy1f https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2odW1yd https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2odR2eR https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2odVMgi https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

https://flic.kr/p/2odUXcr https://www.flickr.com/photos/194934231@N03/

 

[Modified]

I've had a few Japanese engraved guns. Someone may be able to fill in more, or correct me, as everything I know I learned from a guy at a gunshow who had the job done while he was stationed in post-war Japan.

He told me that there were some excellent craftsmen who were just trying to get by during the very hard times the Japanese had after the war. As a consequence a lot of very talented and experienced guys would work for dirt cheap. Similar as I understand it to post war Germany. I've personally found some other goods (aside from the guns) made of silver with marks from the <CPO> indicating they were sold through the Central Purchasing Office with very similar engraving.

The gun engraving (or so I was told) was so incredibly cheap that guys who were stationed there would write back to their family to mail out any guns they could send to get engraved, then send them back after the job was done. I believe this is why you see very inexpensive guns finely engraved with this Japanese engraving.

I don't know if there is any way of every knowing for sure, but based on what you have found so far I would imagine your gun is one of these; "Mail me some guns and I'll engrave them, then mail them back"

 

[RKmesa]

Love it Jeff. Great gun and wonderful photos!

Thanks for sharing,

 

[bluetopper]

The dates you mentioned match.

PFC Edward C Parks (1928-1951) - Find a Grave Memorial

 

[22hipower]

The dates you mentioned match.

PFC Edward C Parks (1928-1951) - Find a Grave Memorial

Thanks much, makes sense, Alder Cemetery is just across the TN state line from Lee County, VA where E C Parks was born.

Thanks.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[usm1rifle]

I like it, looks like Mt. Fuji.

 

[Muley Gil]

22hipower, I'm glad you have this .38/44, but it seems a shame it isn't still in PFC Parks' family.

 

[22hipower]

22hipower, I'm glad you have this .38/44, but it seems a shame it isn't still in PFC Parks' family.

Agree, I'd prefer that too. The story I got, probably correct, is that E C's father had no other family; at least none that wanted a firearm. He kept it as long as he could and then gave it to a collector friend who kept it a long time too. It recently went to a long time friend/caretaker when he passed on. I got it from the friend who has no family interested in it and has some medical expenses. So, apparently no direct family to leave it to. I will appreciate it though for the time it is in my care and I'll pass it to someone who will also respect and honor E C Parks' service. Appears it stayed very close to where E C grew up in Virginia, perhaps not far from you, until it came to me.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Walstib]

Post-War Japanese Engraving

I'm still researching this new acquisition and would appreciate any information on Japanese engraving from the post WWII period. If you have examples please post them.

At this point I believe the engraving was most likely arranged by the individual whose name is engraved on the left side (Edward) E C Parks of Lee County Virginia. He was a young soldier born in 1928 who was KIA in the Korean War in February of 1951 (5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division). I have no information as to how the gun got back to his family after his death, or how he would have acquired a pre-war (1937/38) HD while serving in Japan and Korea. Possibly his family could have had the gun engraved after his death but given the Japanese engraving that seems unlikely.

The gun is in excellent condition and likely hasn't been fired since it was engraved and probably not much before. If anyone has other examples of engraved guns brought back by servicemen I'd love to see them. The grips are some pre-war magnas that I had as the stocks that came on it were somewhat funky hand carved targets probably made at the same time the engraving was done.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

[FONT=&quot]I've told the story before on the forum, but since you asked, and since audiences change over time… My father was stationed on Guam in 1946 as XO of the Naval Garrison. He was the Rifle & Pistol team coach on the flagship of the fleet, the USS Pennsylvania on the wrong day at Pearl Harbor, and so had some experience with firearms. While on Guam, he acquired what we now call a Registered Magnum, although at that time, it was just an "Oh Wow!" pistol. He sent it to Japan to be engraved, and also ordered the ivory grips with a dragon engraved. Total cost then was $52.00 if I remember right. He was using a 38-44 Outdoorsman as his preferred pistol at the time, and he so liked the engraving job that he ordered a set of ivory grips that duplicated factory walnut, for the Outdoorsman. By then, things were apparently starting to look up in Japan, as this second set of grips cost over $100.00 by themselves![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In his prior years as a CPO, before he became a Mustang officer, his pistol team on the Pennsylvania included the ship's dentist, who made a grip insert out of dental false teeth material for each member of the team. They were teased to death by the other teams, but the grip really worked, so Dad also sent it to Japan to have it duplicated in ivory. I'm sorry to say I don't have the original in "dental" but both pistols still have their ivory versions. Here's a few pics of the results.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[22hipower]

Great story, thanks for showing us those guns again. Your Dad had great taste in firearms. I remember the grips from your previous post, truly unique.

Jeff
SWCA #1457