Please Help on Research on Engraver named Ogawa (and/or Sugowa) from the Fifties and Sixties

[splhcb]

Please Help on Research on Engraver named Ogawa (and/or Sugowa) from the Fifties and Sixties

Some years ago I obtained a beautiful (if that adjective may be used) 5-screw pre-29 that is so fully engraved that there is hardly any spare room left on metal. After a couple of years of searching the closest I could determine was that whoever engraved it must have been European (German/Austrian) trained. But no matter who I compared it to (by looking at photos of many other engraved S&Ws and Colts, etc.) I could not match it with a solid confidence level to an engraver.

Recently I came across an ad for an engraved pre-29 5-screw (whose serial number is only a few thousand off from mine) that looks very similar to mine. The owner says he inherited it from his Dad, and that it was engraved by a Japanese engraver named Ogawa...who lived for some time in the USA.

I tried to get some info from the web on an Ogawa who is/was an engraver ... but all I came up with was scant info from some engraver sites. Here is what I came up with.
There was a German (or Austrian)-trained Japanese engraver named Ogawa (first name may be Shiro may be Hiro may be Hiroo - saw all sorts of spellings) who engraved guns for shooters on shooting circuits. (Supposedly he engraved a lot of Winchesters.) There was a statement made that another Japanese engraver named Sugowa was also engaged in the same enterprise. Unfortunately it was not clear during what years Ogawa / Sugowa were engraving in the USA. I am guessing Fities and Sixties, but I could be wrong.

Does anyone have any info (photos as well as text, etc.) that can support the evidence of a Japanese engraver named Ogawa (and/or Sugowa) engraving guns in the USA, and also can provide a timeframe for this ?

Any info / leads / evidence would be appreciated !

 

[flagman1776]

I Googled it, of course:
Engraved Savage [Archive] - The Engraver's Cafe - The World's Largest Hand Engraving Community

 

[splhcb]

Thanks flagman ... I've already been there and it doesn't offer much info.

Here are some photos of my pre-29, 5-screw:

 

[opoefc]

I recall that Ogawa had tables at various gun shows and the old Great Western Gun Show in Los Angeles, CA., circa. 1960s, and maybe into the early 70s. He was well known to the Los Angeles area collectors as a top engraver. Perhaps a search of the LA area business directories mught yield a shop address, etc. Well know gun collector, dealer and auctioneer, John Gangle, probably could supply some info. (Little John's Auction Service) email [email protected] Tell John that I referred you, Ed Cornett #15

 

[2152hq]

Definetly shows German or Austrian style influence. Most of the Japanese engravers cut in a style that is more open and the scrolls are larger, more bright cuts and alot of background use.
I thought there was a section on Ogawa in Prudhommes book but a quick look through didn't show any.
There are sections in the back of it with photos of engraved guns atributed to engravers other than those highlighted in the book. Perhaps that is where I remember it from. If it is, then no bio info is given.

Another Japanese engraver, Sam Kinemuchi, came to the USA in the late 60's, or early 70's and worked almost exclusivley for Ken Eyster, Heritage Gunsmiths. I don't think Kinemuchi ever studied in Europe though.

Ken Eyster had other Japanese engravers in this country working for him but almost none ever signed their work. Instead the work was marketed as engraving by 'Ken Eyster, Heritage Gunsmiths'.

 

[dacoontz]

I read the thread that flagman linked and they did mention that the Japanese engraver, "Ogawa" trained in Germany so that goes with the style that 2152hq is recognizing.

I know that having a documented engraver do the work is good for value, but either way that gun is a beautiful piece. I wouldn't care if I found out that some pawn shop engraver had done the work. I wish I saw more engraved guns, like this one, on the forum. Thanks for sharing, very,very nice.

 

[flagman1776]

Pretty incredible work! Thanks for sharing.
Russ

 

[splhcb]

I recall that Ogawa had tables at various gun shows and the old Great Western Gun Show in Los Angeles, CA., circa. 1960s, and maybe into the early 70s. He was well known to the Los Angeles area collectors as a top engraver. Perhaps a search of the LA area business directories mught yield a shop address, etc. Well know gun collector, dealer and auctioneer, John Gangle, probably could supply some info. (Little John's Auction Service) email [email protected] Tell John that I referred you, Ed Cornett #15

Thanks Ed! I'll give it a try. Thanks, everyone. I hope I still get some more info...

I will post new photos of the gun which, I hope, will be much better and more focused than these few my son made a while back.

In the meanwhile, please reply with more input if possible.

 

[2K7]

Shiro Ogawa

I too am plagued with the history of Mr. Ogawa as you are.

What I have determined is he was in fact a European trained, master Japanese engraver with an uncanny ability to engrave stainless steel with the same smooth lines as carbon steel. Most stainless engravers and examples clearly show what a difficult task that is to do.

In the late '60's, he was contracted by REI in Park Ridge, Il (I checked and it is no longer there and also isn't the current franchise of REI Outdoor Sports stores) to engrave 5 S&W M-60 revolvers in full coverage. Two were to be done with gold inlaid American Eagles, 2 with gold inlaid Japanese Dragons and the 5th design is unknown. The patterns on the Eagles and Dragons were to be reversed on each so no 2 were exactly the same. What is known is he completed at least 2 of the American Eagles and 1 of the Japanese Dragons prior to his death.

One of the Eagles appeared on the cover of GUNS Magazine issue for Feb 1970. There is a small box on the inside of the magazine cover that makes reference to "Japanese Artist of REI " but makes no mention of his name. I have it's sister with the reversed pattern of engraving. One Dragon version came up on Gunbroker some years ago.

A short reference to REI was also made in the 1970 Gun Digest Deluxe Edition, page 134, depicting a photo of the same Eagle that was on the cover of GUNS Magazine.

I know he engraved many Winchesters and like the M-60, his work was not signed in the traditional manner. Apparently, his style and master skill served as his signature.

Hopefully someone else will know more. I've attached some photos to support this information.

 

[guzzi]

2K7: All I can say is WOW. Thanks for the info and the pics!

jb

 

[Doc44]

An inquiry at Firearms Engravers Guild of America (Firearms Engravers Guild of America Home Page) or at www.handengraversforum.com might yield some good information.

Bill

 

[splhcb]

One of the Eagles appeared on the cover of GUNS Magazine issue for Feb 1970. There is a small box on the inside of the magazine cover that makes reference to "Japanese Artist of REI " but makes no mention of his name. I have it's sister with the reversed pattern of engraving. One Dragon version came up on Gunbroker some years ago.

A short reference to REI was also made in the 1970 Gun Digest Deluxe Edition, page 134, depicting a photo of the same Eagle that was on the cover of GUNS Magazine.

Thanks RK7 .... do you by any chance know if Mr. Ogawa is mentioned by name in 1970 Gun DIgest magazine?

Would you know in which year Mr. Ogawa died?

 

[2K7]

He was not mentioned by name in the Gun Digest and only referred to in the GUNS Magazine of February 1970 as the "Japanese Artist of REI". The Gun Digest mention is in the "Art of the Engraver" section. Some of the guns engravers are mentioned by name and
other are mentioned only by who contracted the work like Pachmayr Gun Works, Miller Gun Works, and REI.

There seems to be a few old timers around the CADA Shows that recall the guy and know the name and even small bits and pieces like...."he only engraved Winchesters"...."he was contracted by REI"...."known for his unique ability with stainless". I was always careful when I talked to anyone about him to not mention REI or Stainless guns or Winchesters. That info always surfaced in their versions regarding him, so I think there must be some validity to it. All pieces of a puzzle that I haven' been able to put together.

REI was in Park Ridge, Il (northside of Chicago) we know for sure. I'll just add that my M-60 surfaced in the Chicagoland area when I bought it. Coincidence or meaningless?

Three men referred to his death in separate conversations, but none knew when, where, etc, only that he had passed.

I have just resolved myself to the fact that I have a very nice engraved M-60, unsigned by the engraver....and that's it until someone comes along with proof other than old men tales, but I have to admit, they sure keep coming back to the same info.
I bought the gun and not the story.

At the beginning of my post, I said "that I too was plagued with the history of Ogawa." Nothing has changed.

 

[frankynohankypanky]

The Book of Winchester Engraving by Larry Wilson contains a reference to Hiroo Sugaya in Chapter XVI, "Non-Factory Craftsmen - Post World War II"

There are two photographs of a slide action rifle receiver and the caption reads; "Slide action rifle with engraving and gold inlay by Hiroo Sugaya, of Tokyo, Japan. Detail shows the 24 karat inlay of the Winchester trademark. The scroll is in the Germanic style, the major influence on Japanese gun decoration, just as on American work. (William Jaqua Collection)

Frank S., SWCA2052.

 

[mesabi]

Great thread! I've got a pre-27 that was shipped by way of the military to the Far East, and ended up nicely engraved and stocked with carved ivory. I've heard that many of the better Japanese engravers were European-trained... I'm not sure if that's true, but they were certainly capable of copying various European styles. I've also been told that during the post-WWII period, a GI in Japan could get some very nice engraving done for very little cost.

 

[crossv]

Ogawa engraved Mod 60

I noticed this post and would share this Mod 60 marked Ogawa, fyi.

Oqawa engraved Mod 60 sn655xx

 

[wiley]

I lived in Japan in the late '50s. The base/post exchanges featured an onsite engraver. They definately did engrave/inlay service member firearms. If you know owner history on the pistol, it might be another way to trace?

 

[Mrpcar]

Krieghoff K32 engraved by Shiro Ogawa

Reviving an old thread, it has been awhile since someone posted regarding Shiro Ogawa.

I recently bought a very rare Krieghoff K32 matching serial number 5 barrel set with Crown grade engraving on the receiver and barrels. The shotgun is in very good condition and the engraving is just stunning. I originally thought this was a factory crown grade engraving, but upon closer look I couldn't find any "Crown" logo, which is typical signature of Krieghoff on their Crown grade.

After looking around I found a very small signature "Ogawa" on the receiver as part of the engraving. (I am guessing the previous owner must have asked him to signed his work.)

Google search found a site referencing to Ogawa, I think this is his student's site. Katsuo.Iura - Japanese hand engraver - profile

Here are pictures of my K32