Gunsmith marks on guns

[BMCM]

I've been thinking about something for a while and I thought I'd bounce it off you Gents.

I've seen no small l number of fine craftsmen mark a logo or trademark or such on gun they've works on. Some of these marks are rather discrete while others IMO are somewhat gaudy and overly large.

I've always been of the mind that if some business entity wants me to advertise it's product or workmanship ad infinitum by marking up my stuff I ought to be payed for that or at least give me a percentage off the price. On the other hand, I do feel the necessity to leave some evidence that the work performed was mine.

All that being said what would you think a reasonable place to make my mark on a gun I worked on given it was yours? That is assuming you think it ok for me to do so. My preference is somewhere on the frame out of sight and discrete. I'm considering down inside the dust cover and a few spots under the grip. What I have in mind to mark is "BMCM mm/yyyy"

Cheers
Bill

 

[Sevens]

I love the idea. If it must have a date, hide that inside-- only seen with a field strip.

As for your mark... how about a tiny logo, I'll suggest an anchor, and on a 1-2-3rd Gen, how about on the tang, let's say just to the left of the cocked hammer?

Something slick and different.

 

[vigil617]

I kinda like the inside-the-dust-cover idea because every time I field-stripped my pistol, I could be reminded that you had worked on it.

I hardly ever take my grips off, so even though the frame has flats that would be easier to use in making your mark, I'd opt for the dust cover route.

Fully agree that having it in an unobtrusive spot would be best, at least until your work has become so well-known that moving the mark to a more prominent place would be insisted on by your customers.

An idea for the mark: make it vertical inside the "valley" of the dust cover, like this:

*
B
M
C
M
*

No date, and the asterisks would, ideally, be stars of course.

 

[lrrifleman]

Bill,

While I can see the logic behind your idea, I personally have a problem with it.

I had (in my mind) a master gunsmith that worked on my guns when he was alive, and to the best of my knowledge, he never made a mark on any gun, the quality of his workmanship was his signature. I have a Model 27 he repaired in under an hour that cost maybe $35 that S&W wanted to replace parts on and charge over $300!

In my opinion, with all of the parts swappers calling themselves gunsmiths, if they made a mark on any of my guns, I think it would look like I was notching my guns after some encounter.

I would prefer that the 'Smith let the quality of their work be their signature.

 

[4T5GUY]

Well, I think it's a great idea to mark your work. It would show that a proud, skilled craftsman has put his "touch" on it. Hardly anyone would know WHO did the work, but it would still show the work was done by someone who cares. Cares enough to leave his mark on it.

Jim

 

[Pisgah]

Maybe it's just me, but when I got up this morning and made my daily list of things to worry about this one didn't even make the top 10...

 

[cmansguns]

+1 on what he said...^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Just for the record....I'm the cranky old goat that whenever I get a new or used vehicle....first moment home, out comes the wife's hair dryer and 5 minutes later those pesky (to me) "dealer logos" are off the vehicle. Same with the el cheapo license plate holders advertising the same dealer...I'm not advertising anything....after all...the "dealer prep" charge of $ hundreds for MAYBE a wash job and fluid level check ought to be enough.

Ok......now to get that first cup of high test java, seems I need it bad!

 

[cololab]

+1 on what he said...^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Just for the record....I'm the cranky old goat that whenever I get a new or used vehicle....first moment home, out comes the wife's hair dryer and 5 minutes later those pesky (to me) "dealer logos" are off the vehicle. Same with the el cheapo license plate holders advertising the same dealer...I'm not advertising anything....after all...the "dealer prep" charge of $ hundreds for MAYBE a wash job and fluid level check ought to be enough.

Ok......now to get that first cup of high test java, seems I need it bad!

Amen, Brother!! I feel exactly the same.

 

[armorer951]

Advertising is not a good motive for making an indelible marking on someone else's property.

Firearms accepted for repair or modification must, by law, be entered in a repair log, which will (should) include a description of the gun, serial number, a detailed accounting of the of the work performed/parts replaced, and date of return to the owner. This information is critical, and will suffice if liability for the work comes into question. ("On the spot" repair records are not required by law, but should be kept anyway)

 

[dave1918a2]

While I marvel at the work of Master Gunsmiths I do not want any inscription on My gun I didn't order. Some have a recognizable trait on the way They do things. Like here in Colorado a Dan Dowling rifle is obvious.

 

[03hemi]

I'd have no issues with somebody like Ted Yost or Jim Garthwait signing my Hi Power or 1911 after working on it.

 

[Sevens]

Maybe it's just me, but when I got up this morning and made my daily list of things to worry about this one didn't even make the top 10...

No offense intended, but...

There a thousands of discussions on this site alone and with the exception of "the latest scam" or the latest political BS rhetoric, I can't imagine why ANY discussion on here makes your daily list of things to worry about.

This discussion can be summarized as "a craftsman is asking for and listening to the opinions and suggestions of folks who love handguns" and your response seems to be that you don't have an opinion -- but you reply anyway to suggest that the discussion has no merit?

 

[Sevens]

I'll state my thoughts differently--

Maybe you have a small .40cal 3rd Gen and you have always wished it would have instead been offered in 10mm. Then you find out that BMCM can make that happen for you AND for a reasonable price AND with a quick turnaround AND at a high level of work.

So you send it off and it comes back and it shoots like a dream and it's everything you ever had hoped S&W would have offered EXCEPT he electro-penciled "hey I did this job and my name is BMCM and I can make one for you too, just Google BMCM and contact me!"

Would that make your daily list?

 

[dacoontz]

I'd have no issues with somebody like Ted Yost or Jim Garthwait signing my Hi Power or 1911 after working on it.

Agreed, and it can add value in the long run in some cases verifying that someone actually worked on the pistol.

I should add, you can always just ask the client what they prefer.

Here's a couple examples of markings by Kings Gun Works out of SoCal.

Early marking which is a bit more subtle:

Later mark which is more obvious. Sometimes marked on the back of the slide like this example or in the middle of the slide which was much less conspicuous.

 

[Inusuit]

If I had custom work done on a high end firearm by a well known smith and it was so marked, there might be an market advantage when my wife sells my guns. Prospective buyers would know Bubba didn't do the work.

 

[BMCM]

Well.... Sorry I asked!

I feel compelled to speak up here. I had no idea I'd stir up such a can of worms by asking a question. Not to mention the snark and vitriol I've read.

I merely wanted to know if, and I mean IF a customer is ok with me applying a hidden trademark. Where would one like me to hide the hidden mark. I thought to have made my stance on visible trademarks quite clear in my original post.

Perhaps I failed to make my motives clear. What came to mind was some hack job I've never seen showing up on GB with a fraudulent claim that I did the work. Yes I keep detailed records but that wouldn't stop such a fraudulent claim from being made/posted in the first place. Than again maybe I'm overthinking things. Anyway...nevermind... Just forget it
Good thing it's bench press day.

Cheers
Bill

 

[rwsmith]

The trip to the gunsmith.....

...is part of the history of a gun, but I don't want to see any markings on the outside.

 

[dacoontz]

I feel compelled to speak up here. I had no idea I'd stir up such a can of worms by asking a question. Not to mention the snark and vitriol I've read.

I merely wanted to know if, and I mean IF a customer is ok with me applying a hidden trademark. Where would one like me to hide the hidden mark. I thought to have made my stance on visible trademarks quite clear in my original post.

Perhaps I failed to make my motives clear. What came to mind was some hack job I've never seen showing up on GB with a fraudulent claim that I did the work. Yes I keep detailed records but that wouldn't stop such a fraudulent claim from being made/posted in the first place. Than again maybe I'm overthinking things. Anyway...nevermind... Just forget it
Good thing it's bench press day.

Cheers
Bill

Bill,

You are right on my friend. Marking your work to verify authenticity is exactly why a lot of guys do it. I thought your question was very appropriate.

If you decide to do it, you should incorporate an anchor or something related to your Coast Guard heritage as that would make it personal.

Daniel

 

[mikem]

I had (in my mind) a master gunsmith that worked on my guns when he was alive, ...

I guess this means he refused to work on them after he died?

(Sorry, I just couldn't resist).

 

[4T5GUY]

I think some that read your questioning post, got it. I am not surprised others, (many,) did not. I still encourage you to keep the idea of "marking" your work.

This is a far stretch to support my position, but..
I got a S&W 41 two years ago. The seller originally posted here, questioning wether it was a Loveless. Almost 100% of the replies were, "NO, Loveless marked all of his Field Guns". Jim Merritt laughingly told me Bob did not mark ANY, He, Jim did just a very few. "Bob did not care about any of that." It would have been easier for me to "document" it if Bob had marked it, but I most likely wouldn't have been able to acquire it either.

Jim