Question: New to the Forum, and a S&W Question

[first-model]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and very much new to the world of engraving. As a firearms historian I've had the good luck to come across some period engraved guns, and I'm hoping that it's acceptable etiquette to post photos of a few and get some opinions about whose shop these guns may have come out of.

Here's the first one ... it's a Smith & Wesson Model 1, 2nd Issue, that shipped as a "fancy" gun from the factory in July of 1866 to a prominent resident of Springfield, Massachusetts. Since it was marked in the books as a "fancy" gun we may safely assume that the engraving was commissioned by the factory.

The pattern doesn't look at all to me like the usual Young or Nimschke work from that era. I have a suspicion about who it might be, but I'm curious to get some more educated opinions on it.

Thanks,
Mike Helms

 

[first-model]

... and that may not have been the best photo. Here are some better close-ups.

Mike

 

[monk]

welcome to the forum. our duty hisrian, c. roger bleile will likely come your aid.. he knows more of e history of engraved guns than anyone !

 

[TFACARVING]

I'm going to have to agree with monk I'm terrible at being able to tell whose work is whose however you're pictures are fantastic for a piece so small

 

[first-model]

Thanks TFA. Model 1's are my collecting focus, so I do have a bit of practice photographing them.

Mike