Does anyone have or know of information regarding engravers during the late 1800's and early 1900's. To be more specific those that may have worked for the Lefever Arms Company and /or Ithaca when they took over the Lefever Arms Co. Thank you.

Michael Lee
3/29/2011 2:20:28 PM

Michael,
FEGA doesn't really have any info on the early engravers like that.
I would suggest you look for an Ithaca or Lefever forum or collectors organization. I do know many of the engravers of that era would work for many companies however. The other problem is many of the factory engraving jobs were done to look the same no matter who did them. It is usually hard to figure out who did what unless it was a special gun and was signed. For the most part most of the engravers did this in a production manner and not much was ever signed or recorded.

Rex Pedersen
3/29/2011 6:02:31 PM

Michael,

Ithaca's head engraver for many years was Bill McGraw. If you want to learn more about the history of American engraving get my book American Engravers-The 21st Century. The book contains a 20 page illustrated essay by R.L.Wilson on the history of American Engraving from 1700 to the 20th century.

The book is available from FEGA at this link: http://www.fega.com/prodserv/BooksSC.asp?recidparam=328

C. Roger Bleile

C. Bleile
3/30/2011 11:26:03 AM

Michael,
The Double Gun Journal has had a lot of articles and information about the early shotguns and engravers including Ithicas
The DGJ has a directory of past articles and that may be a good place to search.

John Barraclough



John Barraclough
4/8/2011 1:24:23 PM

The current issue of Double Gun Journal has an article on Bill McGraw.



C. Roger Bleile
4/18/2011 1:56:32 PM

Roger, you beat me to it.
Your Journal must have reached you before I got mine.
Unfortunately for Michael, the Journal is no longer available at news or book stores. Subscription only bur well worth it, IMO.



John Barraclough
4/24/2011 4:04:35 PM