doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Name engraved on gun, so what?

I think it depends on more than one thing. As others have posted, if the person were somehow prominent or famous, the value could increase. But not necessarily.

Also, I think it could devalue a gun significantly, if the engraving of the name were done exceptionally poorly and somehow distracting, such as inordinately large or in a very conspicuous location, etc, etc.

I have a R Grade Baker that has someones name engraved on the trigger guard. I oft think when I take it out in the field he travels with me. I would like to think he is pleased to share those days with me.

If the engraved/inlayed name, signature, or initials are factory original to the gun; and not something added aftermarket, they certainly do not make the gun any less collectible, desireable, or valuable regardless of the fact that the original owner cannot be identified. In the situation whereby such personal markings can conslusively link that gun to a celebrity or famous individual; values are most definately increased, as we have seen with guns owned by Teddy Rossevelt, Annie Oakley, and many others. I recently saw a Smith gun that originally belonged to the famous explorer, Admiral Peary; and one would certainly be correct to assume that his gold inlayed signature on the trigger guard increased its desirability and monetary value. But even in a worst case senario where the original owner's ID cannot be easily ascertained, such personal markings do not impact a gun's value and desireabilty as a shooter. I am aware of instances where reseachers finding such guns are often intrigued to the point of purchase by the possibility of those identifiers being the key to discovering a guns interesting history. Over the years I have personally witnessed and experienced dealers discounting the value of a gun offered to them by a seller because it had an owners initials engraved on the stock shield. In my opinion, such dealings are a bit under-handed as I don't believe anything so insignificant has ever detered anyone from buying what was otherwise a desireable gun; but to each his own, as everyone can make his own determination in that regard.

The question is not about a famous person, or initials on a stock shield, or inlayed gold...making the answer still 'less', IMHO.

Tom, I quess the new owner of the Admiral Perry gun able to finally get the trigger guard for it. The last time I talked (emailed) he didn't have it yet. I'm glad if he finally got it.
I know he was sending it to be looked at here in Pa.

Yes, I saw the owner in March and he does have the original guard with Peary's gold inlayed signature. He is addressing the broken stock at this point; and hopefully we will all get to see the restored gun and read the story in the near future.

I didn't contribute to this thread, even though I have a strong opinion that provenanced guns are of great interest to serious collectors, regardless of the magnitude of the provenance. By the way, the Peary gun is finished, I have seen it, it is wonderful, and I think it's provenance adds multiples to that particular gun. Some guns, like those of Annie Oakley, are also increased in value by multiples. Some, previously owned by lesser known individuals, are increased in value somewhat less, but some nonetheless.

I didn't see this thread when I started. I have a Baker Paragon with the, I assume, original owners intials on the trigger guard. Very ornately done. I will always wonder who the guy is, but I personally don't think it has in this case, it has any deterent on the value at all. Would the intials GAB on this early Baker mean anything to anyone here?

The origional trigger guard was badly broken and a like new origional guard was sent to me along with a picture of the original guard/signature. A few weeks later I finished inlaying the name and sent it back. Great pains were taken to exactly duplicate the Adm. signature --- it was inlayed with 24ct gold. FWIW

I think it also depends on HOW it is engraved on the gun. If it was done with an electric Vibra-etch on any exposed area, it'll be worth less unless the gun is somehow historically significant and the Vibra-etch is part of the story (highly unlikely, but then stranger things have happened). If it was done by a very famous engraver and done very tastefully in terms of location and style, it may or may not add to value for the reasons others have stated.