Can anyone tell me about John Warren?

[Tom Curran]

A friend brought in a very nicely engraved Winchester lever action, scrolled side panels with woodland scenes in the center, gold overlaid bear on one side and deer on the other. Very clean and crisp.

It's engraved "John Warren" on the top of the barrel. Did he work for Winchester, or was he an independent engraver? This gun is from the late 1950's.

Any info appreciated.

Thanks, Tom

 

[mdengraver]

Would it be possible to flip the image so we can all appreciate what appears to be an excellent engraving!

 

[mitch]

well, i downloaded it, flipped it over, and now this system will NOT let me upload it back in. i tried...

 

[Tom Curran]

I'll see if I can reload it. Geeze, guys, I work upside down and backwards...... does anyone else around here? :biggrin:

 

[JJ Roberts]

Tom, John E. Warren worked from his own shop on Cape Cod Massachusetts, John not only engraved gun but also did restocking & checkering. J.J.

 

[Tom Curran]

Thanks, JJ. This is an accomplished piece, even by today's standards. The stock might be checkered by him, too. It's very clean and crisp, with a wrap around the wrist pattern, not something that is easily done. Tom

 

[tundratrekers@mtaonline.n]

I believe there is a bit of his work in Meeks' book.mike

 

[Roger Bleile]

Tom,

John E. Warren of Eastham, Mass. was born in 1904 and was considered one of the finest American engravers of his time. He primarily worked in the German style of scrollwork but was also very capable of English and American styles of scroll. His scenes and figures were of exceptional quality.

JEW's work was featured in several publications from the 1950's up until the time that I featured him on pages 169 and 170 of American Engravers in 1980. At that time he was semi-retired and would only except commissions from long time patrons.

I have added a picture of Mr. Warren at his vise from my files.

Regards,

Roger

 

[Tom Curran]

Roger, thanks for the history. I know the gun owner will be pleased to read about John Warren. While the engraving is not today's "new school', it is most excellent. John had a real eye for proportion and composition, from what I see from this one piece.

Regards, Tom

 

[highveldt]

Tom;

Could you please make a "close up" photograph of the running vine border on the model 94 that Mr. Warren engraved?

Thanks;

Steve

 

[Tom Curran]

Steve, those are the only pics I have. If you email me, I can send you the photo. tcurran'at'fairpoint'dot'net

 

[WilliamGaylord]

I'm William J. Gaylord (you can call me Bill). John E. Warren was my grandfather, and I spent many a summer in his shop, so much of his work through the sixties and seventies I watched him work on. I have his work records and many photos of his work and can often confirm the provenence of his works. I am currently (though not very consistently) collecting a photo record of his work, so I'm very much interested in any photography of his work that I can add to the collection. My plans are to eventually publish a book from this photo archive.

This one looks quite familiar. I can very likely locate the records for this and tell you more about it. Regarding the checkering, it is very likely that my grandfather also did that as well and would likely be reflected in the work records.

 

[monk]

thanks for posting these fotos. a very nice looking job. i appreciate also, those such as mr. gaylord & c.roger bleile, for allowing a much closer "look" into the world of engravers. without their archival efforts, much of this information would simply evaporate over time. thanks for the work you gentlemen do.

 

[Bama]

Monk I second that statement. Thank you all for helping keep the history of the American Engraver alive. Mr. Gaylord I am sure your Grandfather would be proud to know you value his work.

 

[pete falla]

I'm William J. Gaylord (you can call me Bill). John E. Warren was my grandfather, and I spent many a summer in his shop, so much of his work through the sixties and seventies I watched him work on. I have his work records and many photos of his work and can often confirm the provenence of his works. I am currently (though not very consistently) collecting a photo record of his work, so I'm very much interested in any photography of his work that I can add to the collection. My plans are to eventually publish a book from this photo archive.

This one looks quite familiar. I can very likely locate the records for this and tell you more about it. Regarding the checkering, it is very likely that my grandfather also did that as well and would likely be reflected in the work records.

 

[pete falla]

trying to get with william gaylord , have two guns engraved by john e warren in the sixties, winchester trappers model 92 44/40 cal & a Colt frontier six shooter 44/40 they were done as a matching engraved pair . done thru the Sportmens Den bridgeport ct. the guns were left to me from my late father alfred p falla . please need your help on paper work records. my E mail is petefallasr@ gmail.com.

 

[Roger Bleile]

I sent you a private message with William Gaylord's e-mail address.

 

[SamW]

Warren was one of my main heroes when I started learning engraving. He had a nice write-up in The Gun Engraving Review by Prudhomme published in 1961 with second edition in '66.

 

[JJ Roberts]

I have a friend here in Centerville Virginia who has a Marlin engraved by John E. Warren with gold inlays. J.J.

 

[Roger Bleile]

I have a friend here in Centerville Virginia who has a Marlin engraved by John E. Warren with gold inlays. J.J.

Your friend is fortunate. I have never seen a John Warren gun that was not outstanding.