Re: Help! identify engraver
For $300. you got a super bargain! I would estimate at auction it would go from $2,500. to $4,000. High grade modern guns are a little soft right now but that will change with the economy.
By the style and execution your gun was clearly engraved in Germany or Austria but most likely Germany. From the 1950's to 1970's many GI's stationed in Germany had guns engraved there. A large portion of them were done by Claus Willig who worked for Kurt Jaeger. Also the American firm of Paul Jaeger sent guns to Germany for engraving by the same people. The Jaegers are related.
Due to the post war economy, specially from 1945 to about 1970 it was cheaper to send a gun to Germany for engraving than to have it engraved in the US by an equally qualified engraver. This situation almost killed off hand engraving in this country.
The ornamental designs on your gun are a style known as Altdeutscher Laubornament which translates to old German leaf ornament. This style is called "blackleaf" in English. Your gun's engraving is equal to or better than anything being done at the S&W factory at the time the gun was made. However collectors are so ate up with the "factory engraving" mindset they often will pay more for a gun that looks like it was engraved with a brick and a nail than a beautiful freelance job if the former "letters."
You have a very nice gun and one I would be happy to own. Enjoy it.
CRB
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