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Hey guys, I have a collection of 22 rifles that I have collected from grandparents and great grandparents. I have rifles from both of my granddads, 3 great grandfathers, and 1 from my wifes grandpa. None are worth much money, but they mean a lot to me, and hopefully will to my son. I think it would be neat to have the original owners name put on the stock somehow. What do you guys think and if you would do it, how would your do it. All guns are wood obviously.

While a good sentimental note to have the names on the guns, I would think it would decrease their value. I get that they are not valued very high now, but may be later. And I get that you nor your son will probably never sell them. But I wouldn't alter the guns in that way. Maybe I would pull off the butt plate, or something like that, and put the name under there. But not in a visible spot.
I would document everything you know about them on a tag or paper and keep it with / on the guns. Provenance of an antique like that can dramatically increase an items value. People pay for the story as much as for the item.
But, that is just my $0.02

teul2 wrote:While a good sentimental note to have the names on the guns, I would think it would decrease their value. I get that they are not valued very high now, but may be later. And I get that you nor your son will probably never sell them. But I wouldn't alter the guns in that way. Maybe I would pull off the butt plate, or something like that, and put the name under there. But not in a visible spot.
I would document everything you know about them on a tag or paper and keep it with / on the guns. Provenance of an antique like that can dramatically increase an items value. People pay for the story as much as for the item.
But, that is just my $0.02

or look at engraving the trigger guard or some other metal part with the initials of the original owner.. You could even go as far as to get a replacment part engraved if you could find one and save the original..

cwink wrote:or look at engraving the trigger guard or some other metal part with the initials of the original owner.. You could even go as far as to get a replacment part engraved if you could find one and save the original..

Had not thought about that. But, think it out before you do it. And if you do engrave them, have it done professionally. That may even increase the value if documented in the provenance information.

teul2 wrote:

cwink wrote:or look at engraving the trigger guard or some other metal part with the initials of the original owner.. You could even go as far as to get a replacment part engraved if you could find one and save the original..

Had not thought about that. But, think it out before you do it. And if you do engrave them, have it done professionally. That may even increase the value if documented in the provenance information.

I had several of mine engraved at one of those places like a monagram shop on one of the machines.. It came out really good and wasn't but about 30-40 bucks.. I did mine for several reasons.. First was to honor my Dad and Uncle and second so that I had a good excuse to never sell them..

I had my initials laser etched into the stock of one of my shotguns at a local trophy shop. I've also had my trust information engraved under the trigger guard of a lower receiver. Both cost around $25