I am considering purchasing one of these firearms. Can anyone lead me to an engraver that has experience with Parker's? I know that quoting a price would be hard, but what can I expect for about a 50% coverage and some scroll(?) work on the barrels? Any information on a person to contact for this task would be greatly appreciated. I can be e-mailed directly at Browningfn16@aol.com.

Thanks in advance,
Michael

Michael Braden
4/4/2007 1:40:02 PM

Hi Mike,

No one has responded so I will give it a try. Here is my two cents.

I was thinking about doing one of those myself. Am I correct in assuming that you got that gun from Galazan? If you did, I think they come in the white ready for engraving, but I would be interested in knowing if you have any trouble with them, etc.

As for the price of the engraving, that is a hard one, as it is related to what you can get on the market and what yoour followers will pay. If you charge too much, they go around you, but if you are going to make a step up in your techniques or something, you rarely get paid for the exploration.

If it is a personal gun and not a commission, it is always valuable to have a very good piece for display with a price that you would like to get. If it doesn't sell, that is okay as it is working for you as a display piece and if you are patient, you will get your price somewhere down the road. If it takes a while that is okay because it is serving as a thermometer and will indicate when you should make your move to higher prices,see.

No one can tell you what to charge, as that is relative to your reputation and necessity, of course almost all of us have charged to little most of the time, but that is one of the testy little things about this trade that is a constant battle and frustration.

The mental adjustments that you have to make to rise along the way are one of the hardest things to do, but are just as important as your work itself, and it usually happens when you get down and decide to make the leap.

We tend to stay in our comfort zones as long as we can and getting out on that limb is kinda scary. That is why it is good to have a display piece fudging your prices a bit.

People have no imagination and they can see exactly what they are going to get. You can always go back to what has been successful for you.

You may already know this stuff, but if you don't, maybe it will help.

Ron S

Ron Smith
4/8/2007 11:02:29 AM

Hey guys. I am cutting on one of these guns now and much to my delight it cuts very nicely. I had feared the metal would be hard but I am not having any problems. I am using square carbide tools and airgraver. I'll try to get a photo of the progress soon. S

Sam Welch
4/8/2007 5:34:40 PM

Here is the bottom of the A-1 Special I am working on. S

Sam Welch
4/9/2007 7:30:41 PM

Beautiful as usual Sam,

Is this one of those from Galazan? I'm curious about the price. Been thinking about getting one myself, but I have a lot going right now and must get some of it out of the way.

Is there ging to be any gold?

You do pretty good photos too! Are you sending them to bill for him to post or are you doing them yourself?

Ron S

Ron Smith
4/9/2007 7:41:53 PM

WOW Sam

That's just straight out beautiful. It looks so rich. It also looks like a big flat(ish?) area to cover.

Cheers
Andrew

Andrew Biggs
4/9/2007 7:52:59 PM

Sam,
As usual it looks like a winner! You always seem to nail a flow in a layout. What's planned for the blank area?


Rex Pedersen
4/9/2007 8:24:55 PM

Ron, as far as I know, this is one of the group Galazan was selling in the white. I seem to remember the price about 7 grand give or take. It has 2 sets of barrels in 20 ga. It is a customer's gun so I don't know the particulars for sure. It is made in Japan and has Winchester's name on the rib so I assume it was made at the same factory that does Win. O/U shotguns. It will have only a little gold line border work. About 10 birds are planned in line or bulino style engraving. The photo was done in the vise using the simple butcher paper diffuser I talked about in the photo seminar at Reno.

I bought (and downloaded) CoffeCup FTP for posting photos to the free area (100 mb) my server provides so was able to post to the FEGA forum myself. The FTP software was about $38.00, and very simple to use once you figure out what to use for names, etc. I had a lot of trouble to start because my first download got a glitch and I couldn't connect to my server. Finally got a new download and all is well!

Andrew and Rex, Thanks! A pair of rising pheasant go on the trigger plate with quail, dove, grouse, and such on other areas.

Sam Welch
4/9/2007 9:25:32 PM

Sam - Would you please keep us posted of your progress on this gun in picture form. What you have going so far is very nice, and I for one would like to see more.

Thank You
Mike

Robert Bissell
4/9/2007 9:40:48 PM

Mike, I shall be glad to do that, but don't hold your breath because, as you know, I am sloooooowww!!! S

Sam Welch
4/10/2007 6:51:27 AM

MICHAEL, I didn't mean to highjack your thread. Mainly wanted to let others know that the metal is not hard or difficult to cut, which we all fear when taking on a gun we have never engraved before. Regards, Sam

Sam Welch
4/10/2007 7:36:05 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for responding. Sorry that it has taken me awhile to respond myself. I have not purchased one of these guns yet, but I was considering it. I am a bit confused by C.S.M.C. Under their FAQ section for this gun, it was asked why don't they do any engraving themselves? Answer..We don't have the time. Kind of caught me by surprise since they feel that these guns are worth 20K done, and they are selling them for less than a 1/3 of the finished price. Being a self proclaimed venture capitalist, if you can make the money and their is a market for it, do it.
In any event, based of the feedback left already and considering that these were make in Japan, would it be worth the investment. Whenever I buy something, I always think, what will it be worth to sell and will anyone want it. Risk worth taking???
Finally to the gentleman who posted the pic of the engraving...beautiful work. Could you please e-mail me at Browningfn16@aol.com so that we amy converse more on your fine craftsmanship.

Regrads,
Mike

Michael Braden
4/30/2007 9:20:28 PM

I concur with Sam on the engravability of these guns. I have done several and have 4 more waiting. They cut very nice and come in the white ready to go. As far as whether they are a good investment...........it's a bit of a crap shoot. Galazan used the 20,000 figure perhaps as advertising to help sell the inventory on the other hand one that is very nicely engraved as Sam's will be may well be sold for that figure to the right person. The two barrel sets sold for around 7. What would one have to pay for a Sam Welchesque quality engraving and what margin if any would that leave?

Lee Griffiths
4/30/2007 11:04:32 PM

I was very impressed with Sam's work indeed. I was confused why Galazan would say that we don't have the time to engrave them. They are selling the 2 barrel sets in the white for 1/3 of their est. price of 20K. If that's the case, fiscal sense would say hire someone to do it. However, I know as much about running a machine shop etc. as rocket science.
Thanks for your responses gents,
Michael Braden

P.S. If I ever get up the time and ambition, I would love to learn how to engrave. You fellows do some outstanding work. It's a shame that most of it is only appreciated within our "community" and not the public as a whole.

Michael Braden
5/2/2007 9:41:36 AM

Here's a side view of the A1 I am working. S

Sam Welch
5/3/2007 1:46:01 PM

Sam

Absolutely beautiful !!!!!

The photography is pretty good too.

Mike


Robert Bissell
5/3/2007 2:35:13 PM

Hi Sam

Stunning is the only word I can think of.

Cheers
Andrew

Andrew Biggs
5/3/2007 4:57:56 PM

Sam,

I keep coming back and viewing the photos of this fine piece. I feel fortunate to have seen it. It is a very fine piece..........


M A Smith

Mark Smith
5/10/2007 8:35:02 AM

Sam, absolutely beautiful!...... Can't wait to see the scenes. That will tie it all together. Will you do habitat too, or just your subjects?......Ron S

Ron Smith
5/11/2007 12:02:37 PM

Hi Ron and Mark. The birds will have background scenes tho I haven't worked them out completely yet. And the barrels will have a wedge of scroll each side, 2 sets. S

Sam Welch
5/11/2007 1:47:38 PM