AQHA 75th Anniversary Winchester 1866: Nothing provides the canvas for engraving like the flat sides of an early Winchester rifle. Made exclusively at the behest of the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) by Uberti to celebrate the AQHA’s 75th Anniversary, this Winchester 1866 rifle replica features extensive laser-assisted, floral-pattern engraving on both sides of its brass receiver, with the AQHA logo on the right side and the 75th Anniversary logo on the left. The highly polished, nickel-plated, 20-inch barrel is chambered in .45 Colt, and the stock Is made of exquisitely figured, hand-finished walnut. Limited to a run of 500 rifles, the AQHA 1866 retails for $1,995 and is available only through the American Quarter Horse Association, although membership is not required for purchase. For more information, visit http://www.aqha.com or call 806-378-4508.
Cimarron Deluxe Laser-Engraved, Nickel-Plated Frontier: Made by Pietta exclusively for Cimarron Firearms, this 7½-inch-barreled Deluxe Laser-Engraved, Nickel-Plated Frontier model in .45 Colt comes with smooth, white, faux-ivory grips. The engraving covers about 50 percent of its exterior and follows the vintage floral scroll pattern often seen on early Western Colts. Its MSRP is $713. For more information, visit http://www.cimarron-firearms.com or call 877-749-4861.
Cimarron Deluxe Laser-Engraved Old Silver Frame Frontier: Cimarron’s Deluxe Laser-Engraved Old Silver Frame Frontier, built and engraved for them by Pietta, is a 4¾-inch-barreled Model 1873 clone chambered in .45 Colt with floral-pattern, Western-style laser engraving covering about 50 percent of its two-toned silver and blued exterior. This attractive, dual-toned pistol retails for $649 with checkered wooden grips and $679 with smooth, faux ivory-grips. For more information, visit http://www.cimarron-firearms.com or call 877-749-4861.
Dixie Gun Works Engraved 1851 Navy: If your taste runs toward the dark side, Dixie Gun Works offers this Pietta-built, brass-framed 1851 Navy revolver replica with floral-pattern, scroll laser engraving covering the flats and top of the barrel assembly and most of the brass receiver. Primarily a southern Civil War weapon, this brass-framed revolver originated due to the shortage of iron available to the Confederacy, and it is said that many Southern church bells were melted down to supply the metal for these guns. Like the original 1851 Navy, it is chambered in .36 caliber and comes with a 7½-inch, blued, octagonal barrel with a color-casehardened hammer, trigger and ram assembly, and the cylinder bears the familiar naval scenes as found on original Colts of this model. Its MSRP is $290. For more information, visit http://www.dixiegunworks.com or call 800-238-6785.
Dixie Gun Works Engraved Henry: Built for Dixie Gun Works by Uberti of Italy, this 1860 Henry replica features extensive laser engraving on its brass receiver, with American or Nimschke-style scrollwork and a punched-dot background to provide highlights. It’s chambered in .44-40 with a 24¼-inch, tapered, octagonal barrel and a satin-finished European walnut stock. It has blued steel furniture with a color-casehardened hammer, lever and screws to complement its brass frame and buttplate. Its MSRP is $2,065. For more information, visit http://www.dixiegunworks.com or call 800-238-6785.
Dixie Gun Works Engraved Winchester 1873: Uberti makes this replica Winchester 1873 sporting rifle for Dixie Gun Works. It sports a blued, 24¼-inch, tapered, octagonal barrel, and its steel receiver is elaborately laser engraved in bordered floral scrollwork with a matte background reminiscent of the 19th century works of Ulrich, Young and other early Winchester engravers. The receiver is brightly polished while the hammer, lever and receiver screws are color casehardened. Chambered only in .44-40, this beauty has an MSRP of $2,275. For more information, visit http://www.dixiegunworks.com or call 800-238-6785.
Ruger Single-Six Cowboy: Ruger has created a limited-edition Single-Six revolver exclusively made for TALO Distributors with a 6-inch barrel and both stainless .22 LR and .22 Magnum cylinders. Special enhancements on this TALO exclusive, officially the Single-Six Cowboy (Model 0676), include a laser-engraved cylinder deeply embellished in a Western-scene motif and a stylish pair of rosewood grips from the Altamont Company that have been laser engraved with a horse-and-rider scene. The revolver has a suggested retail price of $629 and will be limited to a run of 1,000 guns. For more information, visit http://www.ruger.com.
Ruger Vaquero Deluxe: If you take a stainless, 5½-inch-barreled New Model Ruger Vaquero in .45 Colt and laser engrave it in a traditional Western scroll pattern over about 60 percent of its polished exterior, stock it with some smooth, well-fitted rosewood-colored hardwood grips, you’ll have one of TALO Distributors’ most recent limited-edition Rugers called the Vaquero Deluxe (Model 5157). These engraved revolvers have an MSRP of $889 and are limited to a production run of between 500 and 1,000 units. For more information, visit http://www.ruger.com.
Taylor’s Outlaw Legacy: Pietta builds the Outlaw Legacy revolver exclusively for Taylor’s & Company from its rendition of the 1873 Colt SAA. This models features close to full coverage laser engraving in a leafy floral motif and bears the inscription “God, Guns and Freedom” on the right side of the barrel. The Outlaw Legacy also features white synthetic ivory grips. Available either blued or nickel-plated, the Outlaw Legacy comes with a 4¾-inch barrel chambered in either .357 Mag or .45 Colt. The blued and nickel-plated models have MSRPs of $679 and $725, respectively. For more information, visit http://www.taylorsfirearms.com or call 540-722-2017.
Taylor’s Photo-Engraved 1873 Cattleman: This offering from Taylor’s & Company is built on a forged Uberti frame treated to full-coverage laser engraving in a Western floral scroll style that has been hand chased to add depth to its embellishments. A dark matte background adds to its character. For contrast, the screws are charcoal blued, while the rest of it’s exterior is in a white finish.The Photo-Engraved Cattleman features a one-piece, highly figured walnut grip, and Taylor’s offers the revolver in .357 Mag or .45 LC with 4¾- or 5½-inch barrels. A 7½-inch barrel is also available in .45 LC. The MSRP is $875. For more information, visit http://www.taylorsfirearms.com or call 540-722-2017.
Since its inception, the gun has always lent itself to visual enhancements in the form of engraving, plating with precious metals and stocks made of exotic woods or ornamental materials like mother of pearl, horn or tusk. The earliest surviving examples of the firearm dating back as far as the 14th century run from the plain and practical to the highly ornate and lavishly embellished, revealing that even in its earliest form, man could not resist “prettying up” his shootin’ irons.
Today, with the advent of acid etching and laser engraving, not to mention the ability of modern hand engravers to perform magic in metal with their air-driven tools, engraved firearms are more affordable than ever, so now even those of us who weren’t born with a silver spoon, or haven’t managed to invent the next big thing, can actually afford to own one or more of these present-day pieces of gun jewelry. In The Three Amigos, a cowboy famously asks, “Hey, where’d you get that pretty little gun?” Here’s where!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
AQHA
http://www.aqha.com
Cimarron Firearms
http://www.cimarron-firearms.com
Dixie Gun Works
http://www.dixiegunworks.com
Ruger
http://www.ruger.com
Taylor’s & Co, Inc
http://www.taylorsfirearms.com
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