Oak Leaf Pattern Engraving

[Dka1611]

This is my first post. Please excuse errors. I have a Model 19 made in '66 that has an after factory oak leaf pattern hand engraved. Is there any way to connect this style with a particular engraver? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[John_M52]

Uh oh you'd better post pictures or be prepared to get some hate

 

[StrawHat]

There is an engravers guild and there is also an engravers forum. You might have better luck with them but they will require clear, concise images. Just going by a description, it is impossible to tell.

Kevin

 

[DGNY]

First, welcome to this forum, which is just about the finest firearms forum on the Internet. No doubt there are many here who would enjoy seeing pictures of your engraved revolver. And there would be others, with considerable expertise, who might offer insight in response to your question.

If you can hang on for a bit there may be a volunteer signing in to whom you could email pictures and who would oblige you by posting them. (At present, I am not one of those, sorry to say.)

All best. And don't give up yet!

 

[opoefc]

As said above, Welcome to the Forum. "Oak leaf" engraving is typically done by German engravers, as that has always been popular there, however any good engraver can usally do oak leaf work if that's what the customer wants . Identifying a particular engraver, however, is problematical, unless you can find a mark or initials somewhere on the gun, put there by the engraver to "sign" their work. Very clear & sharp photos of all of the engraving will be needed here to get any feedback that might answer your query. Good luck, Ed

 

[tlawler]

I have an engraved Chiefs Special with the engravers signature inside an oak leaf. Any chance it resembles this:

 

[RKmesa]

I see that you've been a member since 2019, but this is your first post. So a hearty welcome to the "posting side" of the forum!!! You've received good information from the posters above. We would love to see some photos of your engraved Model 19.

Here are a few photos of my oak leaf engraved S&Ws (does your Model 19 look like any of these?):

A K-38 Masterpiece and a 44 Magnum by H&H Zehner:





A 22 Combat Masterpiece by Emil Willig and Gustav Schildbach:





... and a Phil Quigley engraved 27-2:





Russ Smith factory engraved model 27-2:





In addition to the above, Russ Smith engraved several more oak leaf patterned guns that I am aware of. Here is a photo of a Model 29 that comes to mind (as posted by Doc44 here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...le-action-smiths-2.html?419127=#post138434953 ).

44 Magnum factory engraved in an "oak leaf and acorn" pattern by Russ Smith and shipped in 1963.

22highpower posted some photos of this outstanding Heide-Marie Hiptmayer oak-leaf engraved Model 53 (here is one photo from his thread):

You can find the wonderful complete thread with lots of photos here: The Artistry of Heide-Marie Hiptmayer

Here are a few photos of an Ogawa engraved (oak leaf patterned) pre-27 .357 Magnum (source: https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-M...esson-Pre-27-Revolver/lotInformation/56914734 )

 

[985Plowboy]

Those are so beautiful!
What does one expect to pay for such craftsmanship?

 

[22hipower]

Here are a few photos of an Ogawa engraved (oak leaf patterned) pre-27 .357 Magnum (source: Master Engraved Smith & Wesson Pre 27 Revolver |




Guns & Military Artifacts

Handguns & Pistols

Revolvers

| Online Auctions | Proxibid )

[/QUOTE]


Another amazing post Richard, love this one with the gold leaves!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[boykinlp]

I have seen quite a few Walther PP's or PPK's engraved with the oak leaf and acorn pattern. But like Richard shows, S&W's can show if off spectacularly too!
Larry

 

[RKmesa]

…What does one expect to pay for such craftsmanship?

None of the ones in my collection were inexpensive. I have found that pricing for these oak leaf guns is consistent with pricing for comparable guns engraved with different styles. Finding ones for sale or commissioning one is a large part of the fun - paying what it takes to bring them home… less fun… but quickly forgotten once they are part of your collection.

 

[RKmesa]

Dka1611:

Here is another oak leaf example (posted by Pre-29Smith here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-ha...hd-engraved-inlaid.html?404441=#post138233318 ), and as noted it was engraved by Claus Willig, a very talented engraver and son of Emil Willig, referenced above (sorry about the Photobucket watermarks, but you get the picture):

....engraved & inlaid pre-1956 by the German engraver Claus Willig...

I am aware of several other Willig-engraved Smiths in the oak leaf pattern. Each of them are beautiful pieces.

 

[RKmesa]

Here is another factory engraved oak leaf pattern 357 posted by Handejector in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...ngraved-627-pc-udr.html?480528=#post139151096

A rather tastefully engraved 627-PC.

It is a fun thread and worth your time to review.

 

[StrawHat]

(sorry about the Photobucket watermarks, but you get the picture):

Tap or click on the image to get a clearer image without the branding.

Kevin