Engraving Rifles -Ohhh a 1903 Springfield Sniper

[usabaker]

I was reading a gunsmithing book and it made what I feel is a broad statement. It states;

"As for the serious collectors and gun experts,
they know that engraving often separates the
garden variety piece from the highly prized
collector item, especially on American-made
guns where engraving is less common than on
European guns. Engraving not only increases
the value of a gun, but also shows appreciation
for craftsmanship and artistic ability, or in a
word, quality."

I don't know who y'all feel about this but I can't think of a vintage rifle that would increase in value by engraving it; certainly not a MILSURP rifle.

Am I I crazy thinking this way? what are your thoughts

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Am I I crazy thinking this way?

If you are, then so am I. A collector of my acquaintance has an M1A. All present and OK ... EXCEPT... that the stock has been carved up in the German "hunting" style, so that it looks more like a decorative wood carving from a very "kitsch" hunting lodge than a usable rifle.

My opinion..... YEUCHHH !!!!!!

The value of a milsurp lies
1) - for collectors - in its originality, condition, and historical context.
2) - for shooters - in its performance.

NEITHER of these is enhanced by carving or engraving. In fact 1) is ruined and 2) may be impaired (the carved-up stock mentioned above is actually more uncomfortable to hold than an original!)

[Riversedge]

The only way I could see value brought to rifles by engraving would if said engraving was done by a notable gunsmith from the era of when the rifle was made. I did read about sporterizing and engraving that was done by little shops in Germany in their era to mauser rifles that can fetch a high premium. I would imagine that some of these engravings would bring some historical and rarity value. Of course, eye of the beholder and what not.

[CINDERS]

Thats why there are places like Purdey and H & H whom specialize in the engraving of rifles not milsurps it is an art form in its own rite there are however cheaper ones like your Weatherby's, Saur etc they have different grades according to the buyers taste.
A milsurp has only a few grades 1) functional to kill the enemy 2) robustness to defeat the crunchies attempts to fix it & 3) survive battlefield conditions.

Any one who engraves a milsurp really needs to lie on a couch and tell the physciatrist what type of childhood they had!

The only exceptions to the rule would be one presented to senior ranks by the troops or presented to the services by the manufacturer in both cases for display only no shooting......

[Sunray]

The "Expert" is talking about commercial hunting rifles, not milsurps. Very few of which will ever be collector pieces no matter what you do to it. Engraving, say a Rem M700, makes the thing a 'custom' rifle. That alone can make it more difficult to sell and usually at a lower price. What you think is cool on a hunting rifle isn't necessarily what anybody else thinks is cool.
"...Mauser rifles that can fetch a high premium..." Those would be Commercial Mausers. Not K98's.

[wjw]

It's a gunsmithing book - and the perspective is that of a sporting or custom firearm. If the sporting firearm is factory engraved it will command a greater price than the standard model (depending on condition and grade). If the engraving is not factory original the engraved firearm may still bring a premium if well done and by a known engraver. However, some after market engraving is so poorly done that the firearm becomes nothing more than a parts gun. In regard to military weapons, the only firearms that might be engraved would be presentation pieces. These may or may not increase the value of the firearm engraved, dependent on by whom and to whom the presentation was made.

[limpetmine]

Back in the day, the late 1970's and 1980's, the only way to acquire an M-1 rifle was through the "one in a lifetime" through DCM, Director of Civilian Marksmanship. Those that were sold were usually kept by their owners to shoot in high power competitions. The few that were on the market were from death and retirement from the sport. This all said, to preface my horror, when I saw a wonderfully stocked M-1, but with a jeweled bolt and gas tube, which the gun shop felt added half again to the value, then an astronomical $1,600.00. But the good news is the fellow didn't do irreplaceable parts.

[usabaker]

Any one who engraves a milsurp really needs to lie on a couch and tell the physciatrist what type of childhood they had!

ROFL.... I agree.