To Engrave or Not to Engrave That is...

[Steve Kleist]

I have two Repros that I intend to keep, shoot, and pass on to my sons. I am thinking about having my initials engraved on the metal stock plate. I doubt they will ever be sold while my sons own them. Nothing special about these guns except family provenance with hundreds of family memories.

Whatdyathink?

Thanks,
Steve Kleist Ely, MN

[Steve Huffman]

Thats what its there for ! Never know you may be a famous shooter some day !

[Robin Lewis]

That's what they are for and I think it would make them even more special to your boys. Go for it!

[Bob Jurewicz]

Seeing your initials on their gun will make it even more special for them!!!!
Bob Jurewicz

[Mills Morrison]

Go for it. I have a Repro that belonged to my great uncle and I am thinking of having his initials put on it. Your sons would appreciate it.

[Brian Dudley]

Get it done! I would only recommend this for a gun that you plan to keep and pass on.
Anyway... it can always be reversed way on down the line if the future owner wants to.

[Dennis V. Nix]

Not to be contrary but have you thought of having THEIR initials put on the guns? If I was in your position it would give me a lot of pleasure shooting a gun that I knew my son was going to use someday and I think it would give your sons pleasure knowing the gun was supposed to be for them all the time.

To answer your initial question I agree with the others that if you plan to hang on to the guns then you can do whatever you want with them.

Dennis

[Greg Baehman]

Why not have your initials engraved in it? A future owner could always have it changed out if they don't like or want it. I had a stock maker install a new intitial oval in an Arrieta that I own, he only charged me $40 to do it.

[Erick Dorr]

By all means do it. They will appreciate them more.
Erick

[Brian Dudley]

You can solve all this by just naming all your sons with the same as yours. :rotf:

I will just add a thought. Right now I am building 2 Parker Shotguns (a VH to CH upgrade and a 20g. hammer gun). Both are going to be guns that I will keep for myself to shoot and use as display guns.
I plan on having my Initials engraved on both of those guns.

[jeff kropp]

Yes, your sons will enjoy using guns you have personalized. Not to be a wiseas*, but I never put my 3 initials on ANYTHING, because they spell jerk (JRK).

[wayne goerres]

I believe jerk is spelled jerk.

[Buddy Marson]

Consider this: add a second stock oval. Engrave your initials on the original one and put your sons initials on the second one. I saw this done to a DHE 20ga. Parker that was used for quail hunting in SC. Only this gun had three stock ovals. The gun passed down from generation to generation to generation. That was one cool gun!

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Heck, why not. My DHE 16 O frame w 26" cyl/m barrels from 1905, has Jos. Gray, Atlanta, Ga. on the stock oval. Every time I handle the gun I wonder about the gent who ordered it. I know from the factory letter that it was ordered in by a hardware store in Atlanta (Anderson's).
What was a gun set up like that used for?--can you say Bob White? Some day I will once again put it to its intended purpose on a plantation quail hunt over pointing dogs(setters), and all will be right with the world.

[Rich Anderson]

I would have it done.

[Robin Lewis]

If I wanted to have an oval engraved, how do I do it? Do I need a gunsmith to take it off and send it to an engraver or will an engraver do it in place?

[Greg Baehman]

It's usually done in place.