Only my opinion and I consider all three guns to be exquisite historic artifacts.
When I look at engraving I see a bunch of tool marks, and I imagine the shape of the tool and the directional force used to make the marks. The artistic sophistication is usually judged by the skill of using the tools to give visual impressions of depth, texture, tonal values and repeated consistency.
Evaluating the three guns shown, in my opinion, from the limited views I'd say they were done by three different hands. To my eye the BAKER lettering even looks very different gun to gun (different tools, force and layout).
The skill level displayed by the Hoffman gun is far more advanced (IMO) than the Baker guns. The ten year difference (and maybe many more $'s) might account for the differences, but the dogs have only being canine and facing in the same direction in common; again, to my eye.
Of course I prefer Daryl's gun having shot it and all...
(tim, Martin's is now the Northern Pacific Beanery, been through at least two different ownerships, and I haven't had a pancake. Livingston is still a very lively town and things keep changing.)
Last edited by SDH-MT; 01/28/09 06:59 PM.
