Just came across your Guild's website searching for new contact info for Rudy Marek -- I can update his info a little.

In 1992 I found Mr. Marek while looking for someone to engrave some gifts. He did these and some more a few years later and I did not try to contact him again until today, when his Banks, OR phone number says it is no longer in service (I live in Portland, OR).

He lived at the address given above when I had business with him. While talking to him in the early 1990s he mentioned his intention to drive to Alaska and stay there awhile - I do not remember more specifics. He had a couple of old military vehicles he had renovated and he said he intended to drive them to Alaska.

He told me he was a lay preacher and did the engraving as a hobby. He did not mention any of the specifics given above in his bio, nor did he mention being a police officer. If I find out more about his whereabouts, I will post it here.

William McCabe
11/27/2009 3:44:40 PM

After posting above (11/27/2009), I continued my search for Mr Marek and found this book written by him, at Amazon, published in 1991, the year before I met him. I had no idea he had already been to AK nor written a book. The one review of this book on Amazon, gives it a glowing review as a survival story, and goes on to mention the character as being a born again Christian. I do believe one of Mr. Marek's military vehicles was a Studebaker truck, so perhaps the book has numerous parts of the story taken from his life. And this story means to me that Mr. Marek had already been to Alaska before 1992 when I met him and heard him talk about wanting to drive up there. Here is the Amazon book title data and a link to it:

North to Alaska: A Studebaker story - 1991 - Rudy Marek - unknown publisher. http://www.amazon.com/North-Alaska-Studebaker-Rudy-Marek/product-reviews/B0006P9IX4


William McCabe
11/27/2009 4:16:06 PM

I just traded for a beautiful S&W that was 80% or so engraved by Rudy Marek. He did a masterful job. I need some background on Mr. Marek, and a recommendation for somebody near Madras who could repair over the previous owners initials, etc. It is a thing of beauty and I'm proud to own it. bwienert

William Wienert
6/29/2008 4:36:31 AM

William,

Would it be possible to post a photo so we could take a look at the work of Mr. Marek?

Thank you,

Weldon

Weldon Lister
6/29/2008 10:15:55 AM

From Prudhomme's Gun Engraving Review, Rudy W. Marek was a policeman, gunsmith and gun engraver from Portland, OR. The only address given was the Portland Police Department. S

Sam Welch
7/1/2008 8:11:47 PM

I knew Rudy Merek more than 50 years ago. He used to go to the gunshows in Pottland ,Or. back in the 50's I think Robert Evans knew him well.

Jerry Huddleston
7/15/2008 2:13:53 AM

William,

The following information is paraphrased from my book, AMERICAN ENGRAVERS published in 1980:

Rudy W. Marek began engraving in the 1940's. He later received training from a Czech jewelry engraver. In the 1950's he traveled to Chicago seeking information about gun engraving from the renowened gun engraver, Arnold Griebel who he found lacking in cooperation. Marek received his first paid engraving commission in 1956. He worked full time as a police officer and part time as an engraver. In the late 60's Marek worked two years for the Colt factory. As of 1980 he worked ten to twenty hours per week as a gun engraver with a sideline engraving cremation urns.

As of 1980 Marek's address was: Route 1 Box 1A, Banks, Oregon 97106

If anyone knows any more recent information about Mr. Marek please post so I can update my records.

Thank you,

C. Roger Bleile

C. Roger Bleile
7/23/2008 6:31:32 PM

I happen to know that Rudy W. Marek died of Cancer in 1999. One of his sons is living in the Portland area. B.K. Marek is a builder in Aloha. You can find him by Googling BK Marek Construction.

A. Z.
8/3/2010 1:28:59 AM

A.Z.

Thanks for the update on Mr. Marek. I'm sorry to hear of his demise. I will update my records accordingly.

Roger Bleile

C. Bleile
11/1/2010 9:43:41 PM