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Some of the driving forces behind this artistic explosion were the practice of giving “presentation” arms to influential friends, and the great national and international expositions of the era. During and after the Civil War, it was customary to express appreciation to civic or military leaders, or to a valued business associate or loved family member, by giving a specially engraved firearm. Sometimes this involved a simple inscription of the recipient’s and possibly the giver’s names, but it sometimes included extensive decoration. The great expositions were “fairs” where manufacturers would display their best products, and the arms makers vied with each other to produce the most strikingly eye-catching artworks.

ENGRAVING IN RECENT HISTORY & TODAY

Firearms engraving declined during the first half of the 20th century, although it was kept alive by such great engravers as R.J. Kornbrath. However, the years following World War II saw a resurgence of the interest in engraving, both contemporary work and collectible classic firearms art.