Unknown engraver

[vacreeper]

My father purchased this rifle in 1957 and had it engraved sometime in the early 60's. Unfortunately he passed away before he could tell me who engraved it. Oak leaf and vine is common but I would think that the treatment of the gold line work might well be distinctive. Any thoughts on who might be the engraver? Thanks for any help.

[Roger Bleile]

It appears that your father's rifle was either engraved in a Germanic country or by an engraver who was trained there. The oak leaf motif is executed in a manner that I have seen on innumerable Austrian/German engraved guns. The way that the inlayed gold borders are designed is very Germanic.

Even though your rifle is a Winchester, it may have been engraved over seas. If your father was a GI in Europe he may have bought the rifle in a PX and had it engraved locally. Also, during the 1950's there were several gunsmiths in the US who would send guns to Europe for engraving. Because of the depressed economy in Germany at the time, it was cheaper (and faster) to have a gun engraved there than to wait for one of the few qualified American engravers to do the job.

In any case, it is a nicely engraved rifle and you can be proud to won it.

RB