factory engraving???
here's a factory engraved 3rd gen SAA. the engraving looks just like some other recent "factory" jobs i've seen lately.
they all look like they were done with an electric pencil type engraver. is this another cost saver from colt or has hand engraving evolved to this? eiher way, looks like an apprentice did this one.
what do you think?
tom
they all look like they were done with an electric pencil type engraver. is this another cost saver from colt or has hand engraving evolved to this? eiher way, looks like an apprentice did this one.
what do you think?
tom
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quote:Originally posted by tplumeri
here's a factory engraved 3rd gen SAA. the engraving looks just like some other recent "factory" jobs i've seen lately.
they all look like they were done with an electric pencil type engraver. is this another cost saver from colt or has hand engraving evolved to this? eiher way, looks like an apprentice did this one.
what do you think?
tom
Is that the Colt at Jaqua's in Findlay, Ohio?0 -
Wow if that is factory quality has gone to h*ll in a hand basket 0 -
There is nothing wrong with that engraving. It was not done with an electric engraving pencil. The background stippling is done with a finer punch than some of the older Colts I have seen. Perhaps this is what you are referring to? 0 -
It appears to be hand engraving to me. I will be the first to tell you that I am no expert on Colt engraving specifically, but if this was supposedly done in the Colt Custom Shop, I've seen their work many times and the quality was much better than this. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by p.muerrle
It appears to be hand engraving to me. I will be the first to tell you that I am no expert on Colt engraving specifically, but if this was supposedly done in the Colt Custom Shop, I've seen their work many times and the quality was much better than this.
I believe Colt, like Ruger, offers the choice of a "studio" engraver or "master" engraver. The Colt pictured retails for $2,999, meaning the grade "B" engraving cost about $1,700 extra. I believe ordering one done by a Colt "master" engraver such as Dennis Kies is at least double that amount if not more. Thus, you get what you pay for.0 -
actually, it looks better in spiders pics, but still not what i expect from the custom shop. I didn't know they had "studio" engravers, i thought they just had a couple masters and thats why it took so long to get a gun engraved. so, the studio engravers are apprentices or just less talented?
and yes, i was referring to the background when i mentioned electric pencils, but the lines are jerky and not uniform on the actual design.
hey spider, is that shop near you? they have some nice long guns.
quote:meaning the grade "B" engraving cost about $1,700 extra. I believe ordering one done by a Colt "master" engraver such as Dennis Kies is at least double that amount
Hmmmmm, engraving pays pretty well, I might have to give it a try.
anyone got a gun they want me to engrave?[;)]0 -
Colt has three levels of engraving - Master, Expert and Standard. Look under the grips. If it is Standard level, it should be marked "Colt Eng". If you get it lettered, it WLL NOT list the engraver's name. Master and Expert will be signed by the engraver somewhere on the piece. A factory letter should accompany a piece done by a Master or Expert.
From Colt's website:
Standard: basic American style, engraver not recorded.
Expert: master quality scroll work, engraver signed and recorded.
Master: intricate scrollwork with precious metal inlays, signed by the engraver and recorded0 -
It looks like hand engraving to me too, but the quality does not appear to me to be Colt Custom Shop work that I've seen either. The picture shown below is engraving done by the Colt Custom Shop in 1979: (The engraving is cut deeper than what it appears in the picture. Spider, if you know of anyone that might be able to identify this engraving and tie it to a Colt employee's work, I'd appreciate any help you can provide.)
EDIT: Thanks Spider, I'll do that. I tried them years back to no avail, but maybe I was put off too easy. Or, maybe I can get the names of some of their engravers during this period. It's worth another try, for sure.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tplumeri
actually, it looks better in spiders pics, but still not what i expect from the custom shop. I didn't know they had "studio" engravers, i thought they just had a couple masters and thats why it took so long to get a gun engraved. so, the studio engravers are apprentices or just less talented?
and yes, i was referring to the background when i mentioned electric pencils, but the lines are jerky and not uniform on the actual design.
hey spider, is that shop near you? they have some nice long guns.
I'm in Upstate NY and they're in Findlay, Ohio, but I have been in their shop. They are an excellent, fair and honest dealer. I bought six guns from them last year including the factory engraved 1851 Colt Navy below.0 -
quote:Originally posted by kimi
It looks like hand engraving to me too, but the quality does not appear to me to be Colt Custom Shop work that I've seen either. The picture shown below is engraving done by the Colt Custom Shop in 1979: (The engraving is cut deeper than what it appears in the picture. Spider, if you know of anyone that might be able to identify this engraving and tie it to a Colt employee's work, I'd appreciate any help you can provide.)
Sorry, kimi, but I have no idea. Maybe Colt can tell you if you give them a call.0
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