Gunsmith marks on guns

Mark or no mark and where

  • No cursed marks anywhere not now not ever

    Votes: 42 57.5%

  • Yes under grip rear

    Votes: 5 6.8%

  • Yes under grip side

    Votes: 14 19.2%

  • Yes inside dust cover

    Votes: 12 16.4%
  • Total voters
    73
  • Poll closed .
BMCM

BMCM

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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
 
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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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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
 
+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!:D
 
cmansguns said:
+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!:D
Click to expand...

Amen, Brother!! I feel exactly the same.
 
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)
 
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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.
 
I'd have no issues with somebody like Ted Yost or Jim Garthwait signing my Hi Power or 1911 after working on it.
 
Pisgah said:
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...
Click to expand...
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?
 
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?
 
03hemi said:
I'd have no issues with somebody like Ted Yost or Jim Garthwait signing my Hi Power or 1911 after working on it.
Click to expand...

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:

5Pn7t7A.jpg


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.

3UhI4hw.jpg
 
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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:mad:
Good thing it's bench press day.

Cheers
Bill
 
BMCM said:
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:mad:
Good thing it's bench press day.

Cheers
Bill
Click to expand...

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
 
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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
 
dacoontz said:
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
Click to expand...

Wait, he's a Coastie??
Brace yourselves, here come the Shallow Water Sailor jokes ;)

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BMCM said:
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:mad:
Good thing it's bench press day.

Cheers
Bill
Click to expand...

To an extent, it's a heated debate anyway, so you're just stuck with the mess.
I prefer no markings, but short of receipts, it's the ONLY way to prove
that a qualified individual has done work to a particular firearm.
So if I pulled a grip on a used gun and found a nice Mark or even a laser-etch there,
it would sooth my mind, especially if the mark was easily traceable.

Possibly the best of both world would be to put it on your Order Form,
Check Box for NO MARKING, otherwise you're getting a MARK under yer grip.
Put it in Big Bold Script. That'd cover all the bases nicely.
 
mikem said:
I guess this means he refused to work on them after he died?

(Sorry, I just couldn't resist). :)
Click to expand...

Mike,

I understand. There were many days that Bill and I spent in his yard analyzing why a given arm wasn't working as designed. I wish that there was a way to get a gun into the after life so he could work on it. Bill was a very good man and fair. Sadly, there isn't a 'smith near by that I would trust any of my guns to for repairs. I now drive 4 hours one way to have repairs completed that are beyond my skill level.
 
Bill,

I did not mean to offend you. When I read your original post, I read it as repairs, not custom work.

When I contract a shop ('smith) to perform custom work, I believe that some subtle mark would be made to identify the origin of the customization. If I sent a 1911 to Clark for an accuracy job, or a revolver to Chou for a modification, I would want their Mark on my arm. Custom work is one thing, repairs are a totally different story.
 
BMCM said:
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:mad:
Good thing it's bench press day.

Cheers
Bill
Click to expand...

Hope you were able to "press" the negativity away so you can focus on the positive responses to your post, Master Chief. I thought your original post was crystal clear. Some folks will take any opportunity to drag out the soap box and climb up on it, regardless of the thread drift and parade-raining it causes. Don't worry about it. Maintain course and speed, I say.
 
If I pay a talented craftsman a whole bunch of money and he does beautiful work and makes my gun shoot one hole groups...you better believe I want to see his name prominently displayed .
Would you remove the hood ornament and badges from a Jaguar sports car....heck no , you want everyone to know exactly what you're driving !
 
In the old days, and still may be the case, watch makers marked their initials (or whatever) and date in VERY small font on the inside of the cover of the watch.

If it's a repair job I would say no mark. If it is something custom, then I think the mark is warranted. I had a custom 700 Remington done for me by a guy in Virginia. His logo is a set of crosshairs with a raven in the center and Raven Rifle next to it. He did ask me if he could put it on the rifle. I replied "If you are confident in your work, go right ahead" meaning whether the gun was a laser or grouped like a shotgun his name was going to be out there. The mark is there and the gun is a laser.
 
Hi, Bill!

IMHO, the mark you make or where it is located is between you and your customers.

My question is how you intend to DO the marking?

Laser? Hand stamp? Hand engraved?

You have expressed an interest in owning the technology you apply, but some of these marking methods require a substantial investment.

So that's my question.

Not why, but how?

(I guess I'm more involved in the mechanics than the aesthetics.)

John?
 
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