Engravers signature
 

Found this one on an early C Grade Lefever. Pretty cool!

hmmmmm.... a Spangler signature on a gun with the supposed Loy border work.

Something to rethink.

Thought the same thing ...

Looks so much like Loy’s dog’s eyes and muzzle too.





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fine looking gun to me...charlie

The similarity to Loy's work is astonishing....but I have to admit when I VERY FIRST looked at the photo of the gun, Loy didn't instantly jump to mind, but when I started looking at the components it did...the eyelash borders are just a TINY bit different, the dog depicted not in parallel with the frame seems not Loyish, I definitely can see the eerie similarities.. I wonder if it is a deliberate homage to Loy from one engraver to another....is it possible Spangler was an apprentice to Loy at some point?

I have two points.

1. This is the first Spangler signature I have ever seen on a Lefever that is outside the main "portrait window." That includes one other C grade. But that said, it does look like his signature.

2. Loy has got to be the most over-attributed of all American engravers. Either because of the spurious "hidden initials in the border engraving" association, or because people haven't seen enough of his signed (i.e. confirmed) work. The snouts on his pointers are UNMISTAKEABLE. No other engraver that I have seen did broad and upturned pointer snouts like he did.

My 2 cents...having no reason to suspect otherwise...it's Spangler's work. I generally judge his by his fluffy, soft light setters.

NDG

One more point on Loy...and this probably applies to any engraver, especially any who worked for as many years as he did. While his work on Lefever's and Ithaca is great, they pale in comparison to what he did on Remington DE and EE's. He simply got better as the years progressed, and the best 1894's are the proof of it.

NDG

Like this...

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Yes to the top picture.
No to the 2nd...it is Glahn's work, based both on style, and production timeframe.

NDG

Another early Lefever C grade attributed to Spangler. While unsigned, it is a little better image showing the details more clearly. Pointer on one side, retriever on the other as was customary. NDG mentioned the light fluffy Spangler setters, perhaps this is an illustration of that.

President Benjamin Harrison's Optimus, Spangler's signature on the 2nd image.

https://i.imgur.com/ZgkFoy8.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/NKvq4wn.jpg


- NDG

For comparison, here are Joseph Loy's dogs. Note the blocky, upturned snout. It is the most telling feature of Loy's animals. He didn't ALWAYS do his setters this way, but as I've seen them, the pointers have always had this snout. The second picture shows his signature on this Remington 1894 EE grade.

Note that Spangler's work above is generally soft, almost dream-like. In contrast, Loy's style is bold and deep set.

https://i.imgur.com/FnnSpif.jpg?1

https://i.imgur.com/tq3yPrh.jpg?1

- NDG

And, just because I referenced him before, here is Jacob Glahn's work...all Lefever's. Note he almost cuts the middle between the other two guys in terms of soft/hard. For my money, he also did some of the most unique scene settings, including some goofy ones.

https://i.imgur.com/RC33TUO.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/nDhBWTb.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/XAT2tkm.jpg

-- NDG

And Loy's dogs' eyes are always a dead giveaway.





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Here’s a new one on me - see the “S” at about 4 o’clock in the dog vignette? Spangler hallmark?

I believe so Josh.... what else could it be?

I'm aware of only one other American engraver besides Spangler who did a dog's eyes like that.





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Thats definitely odd...havent seen that on another. Can't imagine anyone else who would have used an S. Given thats a very early gun, maybe Spangler signed some that way? Nice gun! D or C?

NDG