Hi John,
Have you given Pauline Muerrle a call? She has more info than anyone else I know about the Winchester engravers. She covered some of them in her book.
Paulinemuerrle.com
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
November 5, 2014

John-
Two suggestions…
1) R.L. Wilson’s “Book of Winchester Engraving” either 1st or 2nd edition has chapters devoted to each engraver and lots of good photos, smoke pulls, etc. The second edition has more photos, covers more of the later engravers, and is easier to find. Not a cheap book by any means, but a lot cheaper than buying the wrong “factory engraved” gun.
2) Pauline Muerrle’s book “Winchester – The Way It Was”. As you may know, Pauline was the last of the Winchester factory engravers, and as part of the training had to master all the previous factory engraver’s styles (in case engraved guns were sent in for repair that needed ‘touch up’). A link to her book is on this site under the WACA Store tab.
Pauline is also an INVALUABLE resource when it comes to authenticating Winchester engraving (and a wonderful person). Asking her opinion BEFORE a purchase can save you from a HUGELY EXPENSIVE mistake!!!
Good luck,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
I have Wilsons engraving book but the dates don’t always seem to coincide with some other books I have and thought somebody might have researched this subject and could name each engraver of the time period(1890-1960) and the exact years they were there. Its the early engravers(1890 to 1940) that seem to be hard to validate the exact years that they worked for Winchester.
John,
Herb Houze researched and wrote a superb book that has the exact information you are looking for in Chapters 11 and 12. Look for a copy of “Winchester Repeating Arms Company: Its History & Development from 1865 to 1981”
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
John,Herb Houze researched and wrote a superb book that has the exact information you are looking for in Chapters 11 and 12. Look for a copy of “Winchester Repeating Arms Company: Its History & Development from 1865 to 1981”
Bert
Glad you caught that! I have had that book in my library since it came out in 1994 and forgot about the chapters on engraving. I have known Mr. Houze personally for over 30 years and have his home number in case I have anymore questions. Thanks again.
1 Guest(s)
