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In the 1960s and ‘70s, there was a trend of mass-produced decorated firearms, probably most notably the many “commemoratives” marketed by Colt and Winchester. Rather than individual hand-crafted pieces, thousands of identically decorated guns would be sold commemorating an individual, event, or even a general “concept,” such as “Antlered Game.” During this period, organizations such as Ducks Unlimited or various law enforcement agencies would also commission special limited runs of mass produced decorated firearms.

The 1980s and ‘90s saw a resurgence of truly exceptional engraving. The custom departments at Smith & Wesson and Colt, along with several gifted private engravers in America and Europe (Perazzi shotguns, for example, from Botticino, Italy) are currently producing working firearms that rival and in some cases surpass the “Golden Age” masterpieces.

Given this rich history, and the undeniable timeless appeal of decorated arms, how does one establish a value for an engraved gun? Let’s take a look at some of the choices.