Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Or rather Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving by the time you read this.  Hopefully, you have the day off and are enjoying some nice family time, squeezing in some hunting, or just plain trying to digest all the goodies you devoured yesterday while simultaneously eyeing up the small mountain of leftovers in the fridge.  Of course, some of us have to work today and that's OK too.  After the glut of unemployment the last few years, I think we can all be thankful for work.

To honor the abundance we all enjoy, I thought it best to cover the abundance of engraved firearms in our December 2013 Premiere Firearms Auction.  In Colts alone, there over are 50 factory engraved firearms!  Finely engraved guns should hold a special place in any collector's heart.  An engraved firearm can blur the lines between gun and art; complimenting each component while still making something greater than each alone.  A number of engraved firearms are among the most expensive guns sold by Rock Island Auction Company. Many of the pieces in this auction will catch the eyes of collectors involved with other genres, such as coins, cars, and sculpture, and paintings.  There's just something universal about the aesthetics and craftsmanship of firearms when worked upon by a master.  Take a look at some of these fascinating, elegant, and masterfully completed works.

Derringers

Lot 1257: Extraordinary Documented Marston, Superposed Three Barrel Retractable Knife Blade Derringer Exhibition Quality Engraved and Signed by L. D. Nimschke

With a large cat featured in the engraving in front of the barrel selector.

This side, in addition to showing the blade in its extended position, features a mythical beast in the engraving that appears to be a cross between a dragon and an eagle.

Lot 1258: Extremely Rare Nimschke Panel Scene Engraved Frank Wesson Small Frame Superposed Deringer with Pearl Grips and Sliding Dagger

Brass and ivory always looks so regal together. Only 6 are of this derringer are known to be engraved and this may be only only example featuring both engraving and the dagger.

We love the tiny woodland scene engraved near the base of the barrels.

Long Arms

Lot 1007: Extraordinary "Highly Finished Arms" Benchmark Example of a Factory Gold Inlaid No. 2 Engraved Winchester Model 1894 Deluxe Fancy Sporting Takedown Lever Action Rifle Originally in the Mac McCroskie Collection

A true masterpiece. The ornamentation includes highly detailed gold inlaid game animals on a background of fine engraved scrollwork, gold-inlaid borders on the bolt, hammer, lever, link, frame, barrel and forearm and fine scrollwork. The game scenes feature a pair of moose and a pair of deer.

Lot 1166: Extremely Rare Deluxe Presentation Factory Engraved and Inscribed Colt Lightning Slide Action Rifle with Factory Letter

This engraved Colt Lightning enjoyed quite a bit of attention at the 34th Annual All Colt Convention held by the Colt Collectors Association. The right side and top of the receiver, dust cover, trigger guard, bottom of the slide bar and heel of the buttplate are engraved with Germanic scrollwork on a punch-dot background. The left side of the receiver is engraved with the Rampant Colt trademark surrounded by an ribbon inscribed "AWARDED FOR HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE AT ANNUAL RIFLE MATCH N.G.P. STATE RANGE 1901." The trademark and inscription are surrounded by the same Germanic scrollwork and punch-dots as the remainder of the receiver.

Lot 81: Factory Engraved Gold Washed Deluxe Marlin Model 1897 Lever Action Rifle

The receiver is finely engraved with scroll patterns with a curly and wavy line border. In addition there is a round panel on the left side with a buck in a wooded scene.

Henry Repeating Rifles

Lot 1016: Magnificent Deluxe Factory Engraved, New Haven Arms Henry Lever Action Rifle with Silver Plated Frame

This is an important example of an exhibition quality, factory engraved silver finished Henry rifle manufactured by the New Haven Arms company in the early months of 1865. The engraving is a classic Samuel J. Hoggson pattern of an elaborate scrollwork on a punch dot background. The scrollwork is present on the top of the receiver, the tang, both side plates and extends to the buttplate. The right side of the frame features extensive scroll and punch dot patterns in a scalloped border. The left side of the frame exhibits a running deer and dog motif flanked by a scroll and punch dot background and framed with a scalloped border.

Lot 3012: Rare Deluxe Gold Plated Factory Engraved Henry Lever Action Rifle

The receiver and buttplate are decorated with the second style factory engraving which features open Germanic scrollwork on a punch-dot background on the sides and top of the receiver, upper tang and buttplate heel. A running deer is engraved below the scrollwork on the left side plate. The receiver engraving has double line borders with scalloped edges. The second style engraving features scrollwork panels on the front of the receiver rather than the flower motif used on most earlier factory engraved Henry rifles.

Lot 3031: Desirable and Rare Samuel J. Hoggson Factory Engraved New Haven Arms Co. Henry Lever Action Rifle

The brass receiver and buttplate are decorated with large open scrollwork on a punch-dot background. The left side plate is engraved with the highly detailed image of a hound on point. The scrollwork on the receiver and side plates has delicate double-line borders. The engraving is the work of master engraver Samuel J. Hoggson or his shop.

Winchester

Lot 1697: Attractive and Desirable Engraved Gold Inlaid Winchester Field Grade Model 21 20 Gauge Double Barrel Shotgun with Case and Factory Letter

This Model 21's receiver, trigger guard, break lever and forearm hardware are decorated with fine floral scroll engraving with a matte background. The fences are engraved with an oak leaf and acorn design. There is an oval panel on each side of the receiver with a gold inlaid relief hunting dog in a wooded scene.

Two gold inlaid relief pheasants in a field scene are on the bottom of the Model 21's receiver in a round panel and a gold inlaid relief dogs head in a scallop bordered circle on the trigger guard.

Lot 1669: Exceptional Engraved and Gold Inlaid Pre-64 Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Bolt Action Rifle in 358 Winchester with Box

The receiver of this Winchester Model 70 Featherweight features floral scroll designs with a feather design border. There is a 1 3/4" wedge of floral scroll engraving on the breech end top of the barrel with punch dot and gold inlaid accents. The floor plate has two gold inlaid deer in a forest scene in the center flanked by the same engraving pattern found on the receiver with gold inlay bordering.

Lot 1700: Exhibition Quality Angelo Bee Master Engraved Gold Inlaid 16 Gauge Winchester Model 12 Slide Action Take Down Shotgun

The engraving style of Angelo Bee, one of Winchester's outside engravers, focuses on hunting scenes with intricate background images. He uses yellow, rose, and white gold along with platinum to give the scenes dimension and really bring them to life. Manufactured in 1948, this Model 12 shotgun features a wedge of scroll engraving on each side of the muzzle and breech ends of the barrel as well as a thin gold inlaid band around the muzzle.The receiver features floral scroll engraving with a punch dot background and gold inlaid wire bordering. In the center of each side of the receiver are game scenes with a gold inlaid fox, rabbit and two quail in a field scene on the left side and three gold inlaid grouse on the right side.

Lot 3004: Extremely Rare Special Order Factory Engraved Silver-Plated Take-Down Winchester Model 1892 Fancy Sporting Rifle with 1934 Factory Letter

The engraving on this Winchester Model 1892 Take-Down Fancy Sporting Rifle The engraving consists of "ornamental scrolls and border work" with a game scene on the left side of the receiver.

Colt

Colt has provided a number of finely engraved firearms over the years at Rock Island Auction Company. Here is RIAC's Kevin Hogan and Richard Ellis talking about engraved Colts in the December 2013 Premier Auction:

Here are some photos of engraved Colt revolvers on offer in the December 2013 Premier Auction.

Lot 1206: Exceptional Documented Early Production Helfricht Factory Engraved Colt New Service Revolver with Ivory Grips

This Colt New Service Revolver exhibits Cuno Helfricht's meticulous scroll engraving that is perfectly balanced with large scrolls with a heavy punch dot background mixed with his trademark geometric pattern borders and highlights on each side of the lower frame area, the top of the barrel around the barrel markings and the top strap of frame that extends down the frame, the top and rear section of the back strap, and around the lanyard loop.

This Colt New Service Revolver has a high blue polish and a gold washed cylinder.

Lot 3184: Exceptional Pair of First Generation Ed Bohlin Engraved and Embellished Colt Single Action Revolvers with Deluxe Silver Grips

Ed Bohlin was one of the most famous and prolific silver/engraver and leather saddle and holster maker of the 1920-1940 era.He soldered silver plates to various areas of the revolver, as in this case the side of the frame, the outward facing top half of the top strap and frame, the recoil shield and loading gate, the top of the barrel and ejector housing, the full length of the back strap and the flutes of the cylinder.

Here is a view of the backstrap of the Colt Single Action Army revolver done by Ed Bohlin.

Lot 1174: Beautiful Factory Engraved Pre-World War II Colt Single Action Army Revolver with Carved Ivory Steer Head Grips

This Colt Single Action Army was engraved in a vine and scroll pattern with a light punch dot background mixed with various line borders and geometric pattern that covers approximately 75 percent of the metal surfaces.

Vivid and colorful case hardening!

Smith & Wesson

Lot 99: Factory Documented Spectacular and Extremely Rare Gustave Young Factory Engraved Smith & Wesson Model 320 "Buntline Special" Revolving Rifle with Shoulder Stock and Case

This gun has received a lot of publicity from us and rightly so.

This Smith & Wesson revolving rifle was made for exhibition to be displayed by Smith & Wesson at the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880.

Lot 106: Rare and Excellent Factory Documented 1893 Chicago World's Fair Exposition Engraved Two-Tone Smith & Wesson 38 Safety Hammerless Third Model Double Action Revolver with Pearl Grips and Factory Letter

When a product was exhibited at a World's Fair, it was put forth by its company as its best.

Smith & Wesson exhibited spectacular decorated handguns, including those manufactured in conjunction with Tiffany & Co.' at the 1893 Chicago's World's Fair. The engraving on this revolver, displayed at the World's Fair, is indicative of the rich quality and style of scrollwork offered by Smith & Wesson.

Remington

Lot 3298: Master Engraved Remington Model 700 Bolt Action Rifle in .375 H&H Magnum with Sling

This Remington Model 700 bolt action rifle features beautifully executed floral scroll engraving on the receiver, barrel, floor plate and trigger guard.

Lot 1251: Exceptional Factory Engraved Remington Rider Magazine Pistol with Pearl Grips

The Rider pistol was a Joseph Rider invention that is one of the most unusual 19th Century pocket pistols and one of the first handguns to feature a tube magazine. The frame has the standard scroll and punch dot engraving with a geometric engraving covering the barrel.

we hope you've enjoyed looking at these engraved beauties as much as we have.  These are but a taste of the full Thanksgiving feat of engraved firearms that will be available at the December 2013 Premiere Firearms Auction, to be held December 6th, 7th, & 8th.  To search out YOUR favorite gun, please check our search page!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody, from all of us here at Rock Island Auction Company.