???

[Andrew Garrett]

I don't even make bolsters unless by very special request, but I was just curious...

How much does your typical bolster engraving job (scroll work / no inlay) cost?

Gimme a ballpark figure--a range for competent work.

Or is this a taboo question?

[Brett Holmes]

i have wondered the same thing, but was told its a bit of a peice of string question. surely someone can at least give an example of past work with a price?
brett

[Andrew Garrett]

Ok then...,

Let's say it's something like this.

I hope you don't mind Tracy. It was the first image I came across with engraving on it.

[Andrew Garrett]

That's for the engraving only... yes?

[Andrew Garrett]

Thank you

[rglassma]

You really need to contact different engravers for their price. There are some engravers that charge significantly less and others that charge even more.

[Tim Adlam]

Andrew,

Bob's right, price can swing either way.
Off the cuff...I would appraise the example shown to be around $600. for the whole job.
It's a pleasing, well balanced, and complicated design with a relief black background.
I don't think I'd be wrong by stating that the design/engraving out-weighed the actual fabrication of the knife..time-wise.

Generally, engraving without gold work for approx. 1" square seems to run from $400. and up...depending on who and what time frame.
Gold is the fashion these days.
The majority of the collecting public requires some gold worked into the design.
Now you enter the $800 and up catagory.
[I work in the $700-$1,800 range for custom knives presently].
I'm not trying to discourage anyone by these numbers, but rather state that this is where my market is.
Many competent engravers have more than they can handle work-wise.
Quite frankly...there's only so much product one person can produce in a lifetime,
and as a result, engravers tend to pick and choose where they intend to direct their efforts.

Another thing that happens to accomplished engravers is that sooner or later they get picked up by non-knife related companies,
dealers, etc., and it tends to limit their availablility.
Everyone finds a nich market eventually.
I hate to say this but it's true...If you desire quality engraving, try not to focus on how much, but how can I get in line...now.

Tim

[Andrew Garrett]

This is good information which satisfies my curiosity. Thanks.

It's nice to know that I can answer some customers' questions should they arise.

As I stated, I avoid making knives with bolsters out of my own asthetic preferences, but if the client wants it, I have to entertain all possibilities.

[Brett Holmes]

thanks for that answer tim, like andrew my curiosity is satisfied.
brett

[Tim Adlam]

Glad to be of service.

Thinking more on this, you may find this interesting as well.

Hand engraving-related work;
Custom knives, firearms, antique firearm restoration, lettering, musical instruments, flyrods, fountain pens, watches, jewelry,
motorcycles, silverware, funerary items and other one-off requests.

Essentially, anything made from a cutable metal requiring a custom touch, and a budget to match.

Items that have a relatively flat surface are easier on the engraver than cylindrical objects.
The difficulty, time and price goes up with rounded or curved surfaces.
It can be a problem to quote some pieces because of their complexity/hardness.
Generally, a price quote is based on past experience with similar job situations.

Engravers pretty much work wholesale...there's little if any markup like you'd see with the jewelry fabrication trade.
As a group, I feel that most U.S. engravers pricing is a good value/per/dollar than our oversea's counterparts.

I've read recently that the "Luxury goods" market has a growth rate 3 times greater than any market out there.
From my experience...I tend to agree.
People with disposable incomes desire nice things.
That should be encouraging to custom knife makers, engravers and scrimshanders alike!

An old friend once told me that people buy what they want...not what they need.
That observation is as true today as it was 30 years ago.
With global communication, and the ability to network amongst one's peers...
...it certainly is a great time to be involved in this market.

Tim

[ron p. nott]

i must agree with Tim . the cost of engraving doesn't only include the engraving or the gold inlay but the time it takes to design a pattern for that knife or gun . some time i will spend a couple of days trying to design a pattern that will make the knife or gun look attractive,, on guns i will spend a week trying to come up with a design that will look good on that colt that i am working on also you must take into mind how that gold inlay will work into your scroll , so when a engraver gives you a price to engrave your gun/knife don't think it is too much because there is a lot more involved in engraving that you think , the prices that Tim has quoted are fair and correct when i do a colt is may run as hi as 10,000 .. that is my 2 cents worth .. ron p.