Factory Engraved 29-2 - They Don't Get Much Nicer

[RKmesa]

Wearing a red shirt taking pictures?

Actually - not a red shirt - it's just my personality showing through.

Not really... Good catch on the red shirt. I usually wear a white shirt, but I was in a hurry and these photos were snapped pretty quickly as I had a hot date with the wife that night. Maybe, that's the red that is showing in the reflection...

 

[fivetwo]

identifying factory engraving

It was bright and sunny here in the AZ - 107* but with a slight breeze. So it was a perfect day to get the light box tent out and shoot a few photos. Today's subject was a 29-2 8.375" Factory Engraved Beauty. I love the clean lines of "just enough, but not too much" engraving that is featured on this gun. So enough of the boring details. Here are the photos...



















I think that this one may have been engraved by one of the members of this forum, who engraved for S&W for many years. I would love for him to comment if it is his work???

Also, any photos of your engraved beauties would be much enjoyed by me.

Thanks for letting me share,

beautiful revolver, but
how do you know it is factory engraved? I ask this because I too would like to add a smith and Wesson engraved revolver to my collection.
on one thread I read that the smith and Wesson logo on factory engraved guns is always small and on the left side of the revolver as yours is.
I found a 640-1 on gunbroker that has nice engraving and the logo on the left side, but I checked with roy jinks at smith and Wesson and he said the revolver's factory invoice showed it was just a plain 640 and someone other than smith and Wesson engraved it after it left the factory.
gunbroker also had an engraved chief's special that reportedly has a factory letter, but this revolver doesn't have a logo on either side, only engraving.
I would love to have a factory engraved smith and Wesson, but other than buying one brand new and talking to the engraving division in person, or finding one with a jinks letter how can you really be sure you have a factory engraved gun?
I know there are many talented engravers out there, but I understand the most collectable of engraved smith and Wesson revolvers are those engraved by hand at the factory.
S&W 60 Custom Engraved .357 5RD 2.125"BL NIB 357 : Revolvers at GunBroker.com

 

[TexasRider]

That is a beautiful handgun and the engraving is stellar.

+ 1 on that .

 

[RKmesa]

beautiful revolver, but
how do you know it is factory engraved?

Good question - I don't know for certain, as I have not lettered it yet. So I guess that I should have indicated that I believe that it was factory engraved. But here is why I'm fairly confident (but not certain) that it is factory engraved:

1) The small roll mark on the left side, when standard guns from this era (early 1970's) were shipped with the large roll mark on the right side plate.

2) I believe the presentation stocks are original and these are the type of stocks that would have come on a factory engraved gun.

3) The engraving is consistent with engraving of other factory engraved guns of this vintage. I have photos of other lettered factory engraved guns that are engraved with a very similar style.

4) A factory engraver who worked at the factory during this period indicated that it could have been one that he engraved as he engraved that style.

BUT - you are 100% correct that it may not be factory engraved and the only way to confirm for sure would be to get a letter from Roy. Were I interested in selling it, I would probably do that - but since it will probably only be sold upon my death, the circumstantial evidence is enough for me.

BTW - the gun in your link is beautifully engraved. I really like the polished contrast of the engraved areas.

 

[chud333]

Beautiful Gun and engraving Richard.
Thanks for sharing the photos with us.
This is why i like this Forum so much because of the wonderful
firearms and people who share them and their knowledge.

Chuck

 

[pownal55]

RK...Resembles the work of Tom Freyburger. Probably a little early for Paul Piquette.

Bill

I was under the impression 70's era guns were sent to Italy for engraving. Weren't these two artists S&W in house engravers?

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

Don't you think getting a factory letter for your heirs would be the smart thing to do with such a high end piece? It could be the difference between them getting 1K or 5K for the Gun.

 

[Rad29]

Hi Richard

I would agree with Doc44 that is looks like factory engraved and likely Mr. Freyberger's work. He tended to do more creative treatment surrounding the logo under the thumb piece. Have you looked for initials under the thumb piece?

Thanks for sharing.

Bob

 

[RKmesa]

Hi Richard

I would agree with Doc44 that is looks like factory engraved and likely Mr. Freyberger's work. He tended to do more creative treatment surrounding the logo under the thumb piece. Have you looked for initials under the thumb piece?

I looked all over the gun and could find no marks. I need to call Tom and send him some photos of this gun. A year or two ago, Tom lettered a gun for me that he engraved shortly after he left S&W (see link below). He is a great person to deal with and a wonderful artist! He did tell me, with a little frustration, that while he was there, S&W was very particular that their engravers not mark their work (I understand that some discreetly marked them anyway).

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...ld-inlays-ivory-629-tom-freyburger-style.html

Thanks for the thoughts,

 

[Doc44]

The practice of sending guns to Italy started in the later 70s, but S&W still employed several in-house engravers who continued to engrave and inlay S&W firearms.

Bill

 

[Model39]

Two Non Factory Engraved Revolvers I Own

There are some fantastic non factory engravers out there. These two revolvers were done for me over 20 years ago by a local engraver from Rochester, New York, named James DeMunck. His work speaks for itself.

 

[RKmesa]

RK...Resembles the work of Tom Freyburger. Probably a little early for Paul Piquette.

Bill

I finally talked to Tom Freyburger after sending him the photos and the SN - He confirmed that although he liked the engraving, he did not engrave this revolver. In talking with him, he indicated that in general he did not carve out the background with "lines" (like on this one), but he usually stippled the "background" with small circle cuts/punches. It is always fun to catch up with Tom, but it still leaves the engraver on this gun as a mystery...

 

[Doc44]

Richard...If not Tom, then most likely Russ Smith.

Bill

 

[Camster]

That is very tasteful! I believe the factory referred to it as Class B engraving? Just perfect!

I thought it was A,but I see one just hit Armslist with more engraving.Seems like good one...,if you trust using that site.

 

[Watchdog]

My thoughts...other than the "how beautiful" line of thinking...are along the lines of wondering how long it takes the engraver to do a job like this? Any idea?

And as someone else mentioned...let's don't ignore those beautiful stocks!

 

[RKmesa]

I thought it was A,but I see one just hit Armslist with more engraving.Seems like good one...,if you trust using that site.

The one on Armslist appears to be a scam. That engraved 29 has been for sale on GunsAmerica for months at a much higher price by a gold level seller with over 130 sales (same photos as well). Over the years, I have discovered several of the guns that I own were listed for sale by some scammer on Armslist (including the gun posted in the 1st post in this thread). I have yet to find a nice engraved gun listed on Armslist that was NOT a scam. I am very careful on that site.

 

[NeoBuckeye]

Amazing photos of amazing work!
I could not even be able to draw that style on a piece of paper. Then not only draw and design it, but to also engrave it.
Talent!!

 

[handejector]

Richard,
That is a beautiful gun! Very tastefully done.

There are some fantastic non factory engravers out there. These two revolvers were done for me over 20 years ago by a local engraver from Rochester, New York, named James DeMunck. His work speaks for itself.

I've seen some of Jim's work, and a couple of albums of more of his stuff that gave me a pleasant afternoon of viewing.
Many of you may not know that he is a very frequent poster here.