Gun Engraving

the spank

the spank

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Has anybody here ever had a shotgun engraved. By that I don't mean computer driven etching I mean by an actual engraver. Hand chiseled, gold inlays with complete gun refinishing. If so whose services did you hire and what were the results?
 
Cannot answer your question directly. My father was an engraver, it is pretty much a dead trade. Technology replaced this highly skilled trade (my dad apprenticed at 14) and there are very few practicing it today. My Dad reinvented himself at age 34 and moved on. The best source I could recommend is contacting a place like Birks. They often have engravers on retainer or even full time on staff. Specialty jewelry shops of any credence should be able to get you in touch with a qualified engraver. Another possibility is check out the Canadian Mint, they use engravers for the printed bills. Just a thought. Good luck.
 
We had one of the best firearms engravers in Saskatoon area. Unfortunately, Vladimir Vancura passed away recently, at far too young age.
 
Bland said:
Cannot answer your question directly. My father was an engraver, it is pretty much a dead trade. Technology replaced this highly skilled trade (my dad apprenticed at 14) and there are very few practicing it today. My Dad reinvented himself at age 34 and moved on. The best source I could recommend is contacting a place like Birks. They often have engravers on retainer or even full time on staff. Specialty jewelry shops of any credence should be able to get you in touch with a qualified engraver. Another possibility is check out the Canadian Mint, they use engravers for the printed bills. Just a thought. Good luck.
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Sadly you are right. Its all being done by cnc and lasers today. Its a shame to see these kinds of skills being lost.
 
Firearm engraving is a specialized trade. I wouldn't trust it to a jeweller, or saddle maker, or anybody else that didn't have experience engraving firearms. You could try Klaus Hiptmayer. There are sure to be others, but it would take a couple of hours on google to search them all out. If you're willing to send it abroad, you could look in England or Europe. There's still a market for high quality engraving over there.
 
There is an association of firearms engravers in the US. There are a few in Canada. I have seen some photos of engraving done in Canada for upgrades that have been done very well but would have to ask the smiths I use who did the examples I have seen. I pay attention somewhat because I have a couple project guns that will ultimately require engraving.
 
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Not this year but the year before there was an engraver at the the Calgary Easter show, as I recall he was in his early 30s. When I went past he was hard at it ( working on a receiver ). There were a couple examples of his work on the table. Sorry thats all I've got !
 
Good evening,
Here is a firm in Québec city, there engraver was trained in Belgium and work for a while for Browning in Belgium. They do engraving for client across North America. I talked with them for a project to engrave one of my antique A-5. They are very passionate artisan. Good luck, keep us posted

http://lemieuxarmuriers.com
 
I kept one business card of the engraver mentioned by buzzmagoo. The young man's name is Christian Lemieux and his website is lemieuxarmuriers.com but I've never checked it out. The sample that he was working on at the Calgary Gun Show was looking pretty good to me.
 
I did a search for American custom gunmakers guild; there is a short list of names, one in Ontario. Vlad Kalandyrets. Know nothing about him other than the name.
 
9.3mauser said:
I did a search for American custom gunmakers guild; there is a short list of names, one in Ontario. Vlad Kalandyrets. Know nothing about him other than the name.
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Vlad Kalandyrets is your guy. He does the engraving work for Stephen Mikton at precision arms. I've seen his work in person and it is incredible. Look up his website...LVVP engraving. The Tobin shown in the first photo of the gallery is one of the peices I personally handled and it was stunning. A very talented man
 
the spank said:
Has anybody here ever had a shotgun engraved. By that I don't mean computer driven etching I mean by an actual engraver. Hand chiseled, gold inlays with complete gun refinishing. If so whose services did you hire and what were the results?
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I'm getting my model21 done by a guy from Calgary, I'll send you a pm with is ph number
 
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Hello, I'm the one doing the engraving for JPBcal30.

Here is another pic of some finished work.
Besides my engraving, the gunsmithing and stockwork were done by Chris Dawe and the case colour hardening by Oskar Kob. Best thing is that we are all in Canada.

PB_WGC_MG_sideR2.jpg

IMG_1154.jpg
 
Scarheart, Chris and Oskar both have done work for me and I've had many long conversations with both about my projects, guns in general, hunting and life. Two great guys. I'm guessing it's only a short matter of time before I'm talking with you as well. The guns are already in my safe and Chris and I already are having preliminary discussions about the custom metal work and the blanks to be selected.
 
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