Engraving Shotguns Anyone?

[Milkmaster]

I recently viewed the thread showing the nice shotguns Eric Clapton is selling. I came upon a question...

If you have a shotgun and want a bird scene of something similar engraved on the side of it, who does such things?

I know there are guys with hobbies etc that do wonderful painting, engraving, carving or other such hobbies. Anyone you know do shotguns?

Is it affordable to the average working man shotgunner?

What would keep a guy from doing something like the art seen on WWII airplanes for their shotguns (done tastefully and neatly of course)? I was thinking about having the names of my shotguns put on the side of each for instance. I rarely sell one so the name is not a big deal for trade value to me. I even thought of putting "Pappy" on the side of my Grand Dads shotgun in calligraphy type letters for rememberance.

Any ideas or examples of such things out there that is NOT on a multi thousand dollar shotgun?

 

[rcmodel]

There are several noted engravers out there if you look for them.

Cost is not cheap for quality work.

And most would balk at doing bomber nose-art, pet gun names, or "Pappy" on a fine gun.

Can't say I would blame them.
Even though you don't intend to sell them, you won't live forever, and the next owner or your heirs might not think it was so neat!

Kind of like putting your social security number on there with an engraving pin!

rcmodel

 

[ArmedBear]

most would balk at doing bomber nose-art, pet gun names, or "Pappy" on a fine gun.

I've seen a very nice trap gun with a graphic nude Jessica Rabbit cartoon in the buttstock.

It's not my gun, but to hell with what someone's heirs think.

 

[Milkmaster]

I would disagree slightly on the name thing. I noticed Clapton had his signature on one and initials on others. I have seen a few with names on them. They were plain guns without the other bird scene stuff on them. It was kind of neat. The work was excellent! I just have no idea who did it.

I agree the entire nose art thing would be a bit over the top. I simply used it as an example of what may be out there I have not seen.

Thanks for replying.

 

[rcmodel]

I hate to break it to you, but it is very doubtful if you are as famous as he is!


Eric Clapton's signature probably added a lot of value to the gun.
Yours won't.

rcmodel

 

[CWL]

Give this man a lookin'-into:
http://www.thegunengraver.com/shotguns.htm

His costs for what you want should be around $300-500, it can be more or less depending on the complexity.

There is also laser-etching for cheaper, but I don't know if it looks as nice.

 

[Dave McCracken]

A good O/U with no engraving may cost $4K. With top engraving like those on Slowhand's guns, maybe $25K.

I saw an Angelo Bee engraved Kreighoff recently. A basic K-80 might run you $8K. This one was $24K. Bee's not the highest priced engraver out there.

And some folks get a little outre with their choices. The late Jim Henson had his Remington 32 trap gun done with inlays of his Muppet creations, in varied colors of gold.

Would you want Miss Piggy and Kermit on your shotgun?

One "When I Win the Lottery" fantasy I have is to have hot rod style flames done in red and yellow gold around the ejection port of Number 6, my fine 1955 870 and a small number 6 inlaid in gold at the rear of the receiver like British best pairs have 1 and 2.

But that's just me....

 

[Smitty in CT]

Dave Baron of Baron Technologies does incredible work...

But as others have said good work doesn't come cheap....

www.baronengraving.com

 

[earlthegoat2]

i have to disagree with a 4k shotgun turning into a 25k shotgun just because of some engraving. There are other factors at work there such as stock fit and wood used. Much more hand fitting as well as higher finish.

That being said on custom guns the engraving quality usually matches the gun quality so if you have an ultra high end gun you get the high end engraving. Believe it or not at Holland and Holland the engraving is not that expensive comparitively speaking. If you order a Royal and pay out 50,000. You are going to pay 50,000 whether you get no engraving at all or the entire thing engraved barrel and all. Most of the cost is all the hand labor that goes into the shotgun itself.

BTW 50,000 is an arbitrary number. The price changes year to year.