A1 SPL Engraved by Charles E Lee

[MarkBaudoin]

I recently purchased an A1 SPL, 20 ga, 2bbl set, that was represented as being engraved by Charles Lee, formerly of Purdey. The engraving is outstanding. I was wondering if any one on the forum has one engraved by him and could confirm his signature.

[Ken Hill]

Mark,

I don't have a gun engraved by Charles. I have a gun engraved by Phil Coggan, another well known engraver, and through some internet searches I was able to contact Phil. He was very helpful. You may want to try and contact Charles via this link http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/business-directory/charles-e-lee-engraver/

Ken

[George M. Purtill]

Mark
That is fabulous. Congratulations on a great purchase.
I have only begun to appreciate PRs. OK I am a little late. OK a lot late,
Your A1 will only get better with time.

[MarkBaudoin]

Ken,

I contacted Ken Tate, gunmaker, in Ion, CA who used to work with Charles Lee. He advised that Charles moved back to England last March and is no longer doing any engraving work. He did say that Charles engraved guns with his initials "CEL". I can sort of see those letters in the signature on my gun, but you have to use your imagination. That is why I was hoping for some input from someone that owns a gun engraved by Charles.

[Dean Romig]

I can see a C and an L but I don't see an E in that signature at all.





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[MarkBaudoin]

I see one on the bottom, but that's a stretch. Hope someone can identify this engraver. I didn't pay extra for a "Charles Lee" engraved gun. I love the engraving regardless of who did it. I would just like to know who the engraver was.

[Kenny Graft]

This is a standard A1-Spl. Engraved in USA at the PR custom shop. TWO BARREL SET

[Bob Jurewicz]

Kenny,
The engraving on that gun does not appear different than the "Standard" hand engraved A1 Special. Custom Shop guns I have seen had some different pattern. Is there something I'm not seeing.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j106/Bobguns/A1%20SPECIAL%2020G%20004_zpsqui26caa.jpg (http://s78.photobucket.com/user/Bobguns/media/A1%20SPECIAL%2020G%20004_zpsqui26caa.jpg.html)

This is my "Standard" A1 S.
Bob Jurewicz

[Kenny Graft]

Hi Robert...its the same....You going to Baltimore show and the meetings? We will be there saterday by noon and spending the night at the B-north hotel. Would like to see you if your going....

[MarkBaudoin]

Beautiful gun! Thanks for sharing these pics.

[MarkBaudoin]

Serial number is 20-12X, higher than 125. I read somewhere that the 1st 125 were factory engraved. I think this might be one that was purchased in the white and then sent out for non-factory engraving.

[Greg Baehman]

Mark, you might ask Dale Tate or Hugh Lomas if they have an e-mail address for Charles Lee. If either have it you could then e-mail Mr. Lee your pics and he'd be able to confirm whether or not it was his work.

[MarkBaudoin]

Good suggestion.

Thanks

[Scot Cardillo]

Can't say I'm too crazy about gold triggers personally but man what beautiful guns!!

Have never noticed the triggers were textured on these before..that's pretty cool.

Is that exclusive to the A-1's?

[MarkBaudoin]

Engraving on my gun was described as follows: " A1 Special" scroll engraving pattern by former Purdey Master Engraver Charles E. Lee. Does anyone have a picture of a "Standard" A1 scroll engraving?

[Christian Gish]

Mark
In the middle of the "C" there is a short nub protruding to the right that could make the "C" also an "E" without too much imagination.

Fred

[MarkBaudoin]

Fred, that's what I thought. Hopefully, I will be able to secure Mr. Lee's email address and find out if he engraved this gun.

[Gary Carmichael Sr]

That's a fantastic gun! even if it don't have hammers, congrats on your purchase, gary

[MarkBaudoin]

Thanks, wish it did have hammers!

[Joe Bernfeld]

That's a fantastic gun! even if it don't have hammers, congrats on your purchase, gary

I believe it'd have to have hammers or it wouldn't shoot! Internal hammers perhaps, but hammers nonetheless :p!

I love the engraving; much nicer than the standard A1 Special engraving.

[MarkBaudoin]

Joe, interestingly enough, this is the only boxlock SxS I own. I always wanted a Parker but didn't feel that I was informed enough to buy an original.

[Dean Romig]

I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't simply have signed it "CL" for his first and last names. Those letters are quite obvious.





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[Bob Jurewicz]

I think the bottom line on this gun is:
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO ENGRAVED IT. IT WAS DONE BY AN OBVIOUS MASTER AND HE/SHE PRODUCED AN OUTSTANDINGLY BEAUTIFUL GUN THAT WE ALL WOULD BE PROUD TO OWN.!
Bob Jurewicz

[MarkBaudoin]

Fully agree. It's just curiosity on my part and wanting to document some history on the gun, if possible. As mentioned, I did not pay extra for a particular engraver, and love the gun regardless of who engraved it. The engraver was obviously very talented.