Sharing photos of my Kurt Jäger (aka “Jaeger”) engraved Victory

[DrBay]

For everyone’s viewing enjoyment.

I have the original grips, added the stags.

A lot of info about Kurt online but if anyone has any specialized knowledge, I’d love to read it.

Thanks!

 

[22hipower]

Nice, I like it. The removal of the SN from the butt is technically an issue with the ATF although likely few, other than some here, will get too concerned about it. Jaeger's shop was connected to, maybe located with at some point, the Wiesbaden Rod & Gun Club after WWII. There are lots of engraved Victory revolvers with his name on them, although it is my understanding that there were a number of engravers working for him but his name was the only one added to the guns. I've been looking for one with oak leaf motif for some time but so far they've eluded me.

 

[RKmesa]

Great gun!!! We know that some of the engravers who engraved work for Kurt were Claus and Emil Willig, Adolf Geiss, and Gustav Shildbach. Kurt's brother, Paul Jaeger opened a shop in Jenkinstown, PA and sent many guns from the States to be engraved in Kurt's shop. Note that your Victory had the addition of a barrel rib, which appears to have been a rather common modification to those Victory revolvers embellished post WWII. Here is one of my engraved Victory revolvers with a rib...

 

[444 Magnum]

Both of those are very nice. Thanks for posting.

Richard, are those grips jigged bone? First ones I've seen.

 

[StrawHat]

I would think about replacing the stocks. They appear to be covering some engraving.

Kevin

 

[2152hq]

I have an adv brochure from Paul Jaeger for his gun engraving offerings. Unfort it is not dated. I would guess it is from the 60's.
It states that Paul Jeager Inc, Jenkintown, PA, "Through our connections abroad we offer the services of some of best remaining German Gun Engravers, employed by Kurt Jaeger."

A Revolver is first off given a labor cost up front of $15.00 to cover Polishing and (re)bluing.
Pictured in the brochure ( 1 small pic) is a typical M&P S&W w/ Oakleaf Pattern Full coverage on the frame and lesser coverage on the bbl from what the small pic shows..

That is noted as (customers choice of) Oakleaf or Leafscroll, Silver Lines (borders)....$120

(Leafscroll is/was a common term for what is also called German Black Leaf,, Belgian Scroll at times, and a few other terms. Just about any Kurt Jaeger M&P revolver will either be engraved in the Oakleaf pattern or a Leafscroll style pattern.

Just for comparison,,the next item in the folder is a S&W K-frame target revolver.
Fullcoverage scroll Frame and bbl. Gold inlay figures & gold line inlay.........$300
Add Carved grips to the above for $100 additional

Kurt himself was not an engraver, but he insisted that his shop name/loc went on to every project.
On a very few special projects, certain engravers were allowed to sign the work. Mainly the Willigs and a couple others.

Kurt Jaeger's shop was used by other US gun shops for engraving as well after WW2. Pachmayr one a good customer of theirs.

Deitrich Apel who ran the New England Custom Gun Works in NH was Paul and Kurts Nephew.
Deitrich worked in Paul's shop in PA when first coming to the USA after barely making it out of E.Germany post WW2.

 

[RKmesa]

Richard, are those grips jigged bone? First ones I've seen.

I believe the grips on the OP's Victory are nicely jigged bone. The grips on the Victory I posted are Red Stag - a very hard and very consistent and beautiful grip material. Here are a few more photos

 

[444 Magnum]

I believe the grips on the OP's Victory are nicely jigged bone. The grips on the Victory I posted are Red Stag - a very hard and very consistent and beautiful grip material.

How are the contours made to fit the grip frame without polishing/sanding?

 

[RKmesa]

How are the contours made to fit the grip frame without polishing/sanding?

Grip master craftsman magic... And sometimes the grips are made and sanded to the frame prior to the gun being finished and engraved.

 

[DrBay]

Great gun!!! We know that some of the engravers who engraved work for Kurt were Claus and Emil Willig, Adolf Geiss, and Gustav Shildbach. Kurt's brother, Paul Jaeger opened a shop in Jenkinstown, PA and sent many guns from the States to be engraved in Kurt's shop. Note that your Victory had the addition of a barrel rib, which appears to have been a rather common modification to those Victory revolvers embellished post WWII. Here is one of my engraved Victory revolvers with a rib...

Beautiful! Those grips make the engraving pop even more!

 

[oneeyedpete]

Very tasteful engraving and those red stag grips are the best I have ever seen! Just gorgeous!