Engraved Custom 1911 Colt
- Thread starter Fargone4sure
- Start date
I was wondering about that. Like them. Great looking gun, you have to shoot it, just clean with a soft cloth .
I had a old 1911 I spent a lot of time and some money making into a good shooter, instead of just buying a good one first.
Than I had it engraved by a master, Passed on now.
Somewhere I should have a photo of it.
Quite a few years ago , I bought a new 1911 engraved by Gault? in Calgary , when he was starting, he also had a python engraved to show, I should have bought them both, it was under a grand, so you know how long ago that was , Great looking guns, thou I do prefer blue. I have had a couple of commemorative colts, hate the things because you really should not shoot them, but on hindsight, I should have just kept them and shot them.
Last edited:
Nickle would not work, to hard and would flake .I would think. Your value on a Nickle one would go down, unless it was factory done.
I seen a stainless gold cup at a show last year, engraved, but it was in terrible condition., so I passed, even though the price was O.K.
Nickle is far softer than most of the steel that gets engraved. If it is plated though, the possibility of flaking is a concern. A new pistol likely wouldn't be an issue at first but if any corrosion gets under the plating it can start to flake. That's already a worry on any plated firearm.
- Location
- Central AB
Hi Paul, without giving the specifics on this gun, I'll give my thoughts on engraving costs. They are just my thoughts, for what their worth. I think anybody looking at having a gun done should plan on $1000 for basic work, and light coverage. $2000 if you're looking at more complete coverage. More complex artwork will of course go higher. Things that add to the costs are having borders, and background shading, and added text. But there are endless variables. The amount of curved or convex areas, hardness of the steel, coatings, rebluing, etc etc etc.
The best thing to do is contact an engraver, tell him what you are wanting done, and work with him to come up with a quote. Good idea to give him some guidance on what your budget is. And like in most things, but especially with engraving, cheapest might not be best.
Personally I think of gun engraving as purchasing a one of a kind art piece, more than mere decorations. And good engravers have to be good artists. Their abilities and skill don't come cheap, but I think are well worth it. So my 2 cents.
Prices are a formula based on the complexity of the pattern and the amount of coverage. Then there is lettering and inlays etc. That can really boost the price. Even a simple inlaid line with a non precious metal is 4 times the cutting plus the inlaying of the other metal and refinishing it smooth.
That is a beautiful pistol. I've always liked engraved pistols, and agree that its like commissioning a piece of art. I only have one, and its not custom. Its a presentation grade Colt, made at the factory. Definitely not one of a kind like yours. That being said, I still haven't pulled the slide on it let alone fired it. Scared to.
- Location
- Central AB
I can understand that. My outlook on the issue has changed a bit over the last few years though. My family has a terrible history of fatal heart attacks, both in my Dads and Moms side of the family. The family joke is that none of us has to worry about ending up in the old folks home. Then a few years back I had a nearly fatal heart attack as well. All of this really impacted my outlook on lots of things. I have a few engraved factory presentation guns, and shoot them, and no doubt will shoot this one. Because I really don't worry about whether using a gun will harm its value any more. I just focus in on enjoying them while I can. So now all I need is some warmer weather, lol. Hope I see you at the range with that Colt of yours.
Maybe I should take it out and run a few hundred dirty stinky bulk rounds through it. If history repeats itself it would be a shame to never fire it and have it taken away. If its only going to end up in the personal collection of some gestapo that confiscated it, maybe I should ding it up with some brass and do some chamber checks against the concrete shooting table at the range. Might practice my appendix carry around the house too, no holster of course. Get those ivory grips to absorb some of my lard ass sweat to give them some patina and color.
Wasn't trying to detract from your thread, just thinking maybe its best to enjoy them while we have them like you said.
Sort of a side note, but still kind of a downer. When I bought this pistol, it came to me from the third owner, both previous owners went through divorces which led to me buying it. I went through with it despite that, still with my wife. But every day I breathe a sigh of relief when we go to bed and she doesn't serve me papers. I'm not even superstitious. But I do kinda believe this pistol is cursed, and I still worry every morning. Maybe just a guilty conscience for my past life, not sure.
Wasn't trying to detract from your thread, just thinking maybe its best to enjoy them while we have them like you said.
Sort of a side note, but still kind of a downer. When I bought this pistol, it came to me from the third owner, both previous owners went through divorces which led to me buying it. I went through with it despite that, still with my wife. But every day I breathe a sigh of relief when we go to bed and she doesn't serve me papers. I'm not even superstitious. But I do kinda believe this pistol is cursed, and I still worry every morning. Maybe just a guilty conscience for my past life, not sure.
- Location
- Central AB
The only way to break the curse on that gun is to shoot the heck out of it. The previous owners invited the curse by not using the gun as god (John Moses Browning) intended it.
So yes, grab up that smoky, grimy, third world ammo, and hit the range asap. Lol.
So yes, grab up that smoky, grimy, third world ammo, and hit the range asap. Lol.
B.Frank. A True Gentleman in this business.
I reached out to him maybe around 16-24months ago. I had a 1911 that had more of sentimental value to me and wanted a family gun in memory of father and as a family piece to hand down. I gave him 2 items that I wanted for sure and let the man do his thing. He came back with few scrolls and even went out of his way to look at some patterns from a Sikh temple. We settled on that and He came back with masterpiece. Pics don't do it justice. The small detailed work is amazing. My family loves it.
I have sent a few people his way for work. Not sure if they have followed thru though. I can say that anyone I've come across thru the forum, private message, gun club. I always recommend B.Frank. Well respected since I am in Ontario and you come across a fellow locally who says he knows of the engraver.
Its the craftsmanship of certain firearms and engraving that is magnificent to me. If you feel the same. Than the beauty is not just in a certain brand of 1911, o/u shotgun, lever rifle etc. If you have a gun that was given to you by a departed family member. Why not get some work done to it. Pass it to another loved one and tell them about the loved one that started this tradition.
I reached out to him maybe around 16-24months ago. I had a 1911 that had more of sentimental value to me and wanted a family gun in memory of father and as a family piece to hand down. I gave him 2 items that I wanted for sure and let the man do his thing. He came back with few scrolls and even went out of his way to look at some patterns from a Sikh temple. We settled on that and He came back with masterpiece. Pics don't do it justice. The small detailed work is amazing. My family loves it.
I have sent a few people his way for work. Not sure if they have followed thru though. I can say that anyone I've come across thru the forum, private message, gun club. I always recommend B.Frank. Well respected since I am in Ontario and you come across a fellow locally who says he knows of the engraver.
Its the craftsmanship of certain firearms and engraving that is magnificent to me. If you feel the same. Than the beauty is not just in a certain brand of 1911, o/u shotgun, lever rifle etc. If you have a gun that was given to you by a departed family member. Why not get some work done to it. Pass it to another loved one and tell them about the loved one that started this tradition.
Last edited:
- Location
- Central AB
A fine piece of workmanship Sunjeep. Great to see some of the variety of what Brian can do. Truly amazing the fine details he adds. A wonderful piece to be able to hand down.
