I recently inherited a 1948 model 12 Winchester 12 gauge. The receiver is fully engraved with gold inlay. There is a name on the receiver, Ogawa.
Can anyone tell me some information on this person? I know he is from Japan. I would like to get some more information if possible. I can send pic's if anyone would like to see them. My father-in-law was an avid trap shooter. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks much.
SEAN


Sean Fritzges
5/24/2007 10:30:04 PM

I remember an article on an engraved M-12 in Guns or one of the other related magazines many years ago. It had been engraved by Ogawa. He was mentioned as one of the leading Japanese engravers of the time. Our historian Bob Evans may have more info about him. S

Sam Welch
5/25/2007 8:49:11 AM

Sam, I think he was the engraver I was trying to think of in another post. Sean, was your father in law in the military? Ogawa was a pretty popular engraver with the military crowd, trap, and skeet shooters of that time and enjoyed some US fame too. That is all I know about him, but I don't remember his style. I might if I saw it.....Ron S

Ron Smith
5/25/2007 1:06:55 PM

Ron S,
My father in law was in the Korean War with the Air Force and was an avid and registered trap shooter. Several of his friends have told me he has only had this gun since 2000. He purchased it at a fine gun dealer in Baltimore. I believe the shop was called Walters Gun Chamber. They have since closed about a year and a half ago. I will post pic's of the gun when I arrive back home. Right now I’m on travel with work.
One friend has told me he thinks my father in law shipped the gun to Germany to have it engraved. But this story does not make sense being the engraver is Japanese.


Sean Fritzges
5/25/2007 1:42:31 PM

TAKE NOTE! I stand corrected. The photo I remembered was in the JUNE 1975 issue of Guns Magazine and was a 1948 M12 engraved by Hiroo Sugaya. I have seen the name Ogawa somewhere but it doesn't come to me at this time. This M12 has a gold covered wagon on one side and a gold rendition of the Winchester rider on the other with lots of scroll work. S

Sam Welch
5/25/2007 6:01:41 PM

I believe Ogawa was one of the Japanese engravers that came to the US to work.
He was very popular among the trap shooters and also the service men.
I had also replied to this subject on the Cafe forum.
As far as I remember he toured the trap and skeet shooting circuit in the late 40's and early 50's and engraved many guns right there at the shoot.
This was at the same time as my departed friend Neil Hartliep, grandfather of one of our current FEGA members.
Most Model 12's that both of them engraved were done with modified Winchester factory patterns, often Grade 5.
They were using H&C and the cuts usually quite bold and had quite a bit of flair. The shooter wanted the engraving to show up and wear well.
Seem as if I did hear that Ogawa did some time back in Germany.
I seem to remember that he left Japan for Germany or Austria and took his gun engraving training there after WW2.
John.

John Barraclough
5/26/2007 11:53:06 AM