America’s Got Talent

Engraved guns have a way of casting a hypnotic spell on you with their beauty and detail. Closer examination fills you with wonderment and awe, asking, “how do they do that?” Your next thought is usually along the lines of, “Boy, I’d love to have an engraved gun!”

Bobby Tyler of Tyler Gun Works in Texas knows the dreams and aspirations of gun people like you and me. By sponsoring a contest featuring engraved guns, the art of engraving is promoted, giving both the guns and the engravers much appreciated exposure. The more exposure, the better it is for everyone involved.

The Contest

As a way of promoting non-Master engravers, Bobby had an idea. Why not hold a national contest for engravers of non-Master status, offering them a chance to gain attention while vying for a big prize?

Doing exactly that, Bobby advertised the “Engraving Extravaganza” and sent engraving plates to 63 total contestants, later narrowing down the list to the top 10 based on various criteria, including layout, cut clarity, visual impact and creativity. He then bought 10 brand new Colt SAA revolvers and sent them to the final contestants, who will have one year to fondle, scratch, engrave and transform them for the Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA) Convention in 2021. The completed guns will then be judged by a panel consisting of Master engravers and the winning engraver awarded $10,000 in prize money.

This is a true win-win situation for everyone involved; the contestants have a chance of winning $10,000 along with exposure to the gun community, and Bobby will become acquainted with possible new engravers for his business. And for us gun aficionados, more engravers means more engraved guns to ogle over!

The following contestants were selected as the top 10 engravers. For more information about them, or to inquire about their services, we’ve provided links for those available.

Tim Halloran

Engraving since 1986, Tim worked in a steel mill as a machinist, making, anodizing, powder coating, and engraving Harley Davidson parts to sell at swap meets.

Tim kept at motorcycles until he attended his first Grandmasters class in 2005, upon which he tried his hand at guns and knives. He later attended the Grandmasters in 2008, 2010 and 2012, becoming a full-time engraver in 2008. Tim’s studio is located in Blue Grass, Iowa.

For more info: www.halloranengraving.com

Jeffrey Lewis

Jeffrey grew-up in the back of his father’s jewelry store in Mineral Wells, Texas, setting the stage for him to follow in his father’s footsteps and became a jeweler.

After a 30-year career in the jewelry business, he took a “Western Bright-Cut” class in 2007 under Jeremiah Watts at GRS Training Center, and over the past four years, with the support of his employer and family, has spent time taking dire direction from Sam Alfano, Rex Pederson, Mike Dubber, Weldon Lister and Jeff Parke.

Lewis Engraving is operated out of Memphis, Tenn.

Marianne Kelley

Marianne began her engraving journey after learning about GRS while attending the Dallas Safari Club in 2015. After taking a class taught by Rex Peterson called “The Henry Receiver,” followed by “Start to Finish Firearm” in 2016, her love and passion for engraving was born.

She began engraving with knife bolsters and never imagined engraving a gun. Now retired from her full-time career, she has time to practice and study the art of engraving. Cutting different styles and techniques is only part of what she has brought back to her studio in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Dan Dzivi

Once a Texas engineer, Dan has been fascinated with engraved firearms since he was a kid. After retirement in 2014, he began looking for something to do and, upon the advice of a local engraver, enrolled in classes at GRS in Emporia, Kan., studying “Basic Engraving” under the instruction of Rex Peterson, as well as “Firearms Engraving.” Dan also studied lettering under Sam Alrano and bulino under Jake Newell.

As a full-time engraver, Dan enjoys cutting each piece with the passion and integrity it deserves and alternates between firearm engraving and building custom rifles, along with stock work. His shop, Dzivi Arms & Engraving Co. is located in Nocona, Texas.

For more info: Dzivi Arms & Engraving Co. on Facebook

Stephen Frickey

Steve, of Rigby, Idaho, has always been interested in the art of engraving. While stationed in Europe, Steve had the opportunity to observe several examples of antique arms and armor, eventually leading him to this career.

After service in the U.S. government, he went to school, got a degree, new job, and started a family. In 1994, he took a gunsmithing course and ran across the book, “The Art of Engraving” by James B. Meek. Steve dutifully attempted the techniques described, making tools and vices when he could. The results were crude, but he was hooked.

The book’s last chapter described the pneumatically powered “Gravermeister.” Steve had heard of FEGA that held an annual convention in Reno, Nev. There, Steve discovered people who had the skill and knowledge he sought and exposed him to new tools. And after much studying, he learned new techniques and skills to take his engraving to the next level and continues to drive him today. Constantly learning new skills and techniques is what drives him.

Michael Siderio

From a young age Michael was intrigued with the arts, always drawing, painting, carving and building things. After school, he began a career in law enforcement and continued art as a hobby, discovering tattoo art. After 11.5 years in law enforcement, he became a full-time tattoo artist but always wanted to learn engraving.

In 2010, seeing a GRS display at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits (NRAAM), he immediately signed up for a class. Since then, he’s enrolled in additional classes, as well as studied with Sam Alfano and Ray Cover. Based in Rio Grande, N.J, Michael hopes to pursue engraving full-time.

For more info: www.msiderioengraver.com

Dale Bass

Dale began a silversmithing career in 1991, building buckles, spurs, jewelry and saddle hardware. Later progressing into engraving, Dale has built and engraved objects for celebrities, including Buck Taylor of “Gunsmoke” and former President George W. Bush.

Engraving firearms and custom knives since 2013, his work has been displayed at NRAAM, SHOT Show and the Colt Collectors Show, as well as engraving for The Working Ranch Cowboys Association.

At this point in his career, Dale has engraved over 125 firearms, including the first new-production Colt Python to be engraved. Bass Engraving is located in Amarillo, Texas.

Joe Mason

Joe began in the knife industry around 1992, making his first knife in ‘94. One who always enjoyed working with his hands, engraving was a natural interest to him as collecting books and learning new information kept his passion moving toward firearms and the craft he enjoys the most — engraving.

Joe engraves in a variety of different styles and techniques as a full-time firearm engraver in Braden, Miss.

For more info: www.joemasonengraving.com

Joshua Feichtinger

Joshua’s career started in 2008 in the jewelry industry. Learning how to sharpen a graver at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, he developed a passion, fascination, and addiction to scrolls and engraving, loving the transformation of a blank slate to a beautiful piece of art.

Also an accomplished Goldsmith and stone setter, Joshua was inspired by the book, “In the Art of Hand Engraving” for the name of his own company, M N Hand Engraving based out of Burnsville, Minn.

For more info: @hand_engraving_mn on Instagram

Made Possible By

Supporting the Engraving Extravangza is GRS Training Center, a company inspired by the love of hand engraving and established by two innovative men, Don Glaser and John Rohner, and later expanded by Don’s son, D.J. Glaser.

This inspiration has carried on through creation, innovation and preservation of the arts of engraving and stonesetting. Through a working relationship with the industry, GRS has been able to meet and exceed the needs of customers since the 1960s, as well as become a brand recognized worldwide for its training, quality customer service, inventive solutions.

GRS products, such as the GraverMach AT, GraverMax G8, GraverSmith, and others, can be found on artist benches all over the world. GRS also offers classes for all skill levels in hand engraving and stone setting.

In addition to the $10,000 grand prize, second- and third-place finishers will win $1,000 and $500, respectively, thanks to GRS.

Stay tuned as we’ll be sure to update you on the winner of this gun engraver’s edition of America’s Got Talent. A year is a long time, but we know these custom-engraved Colt revolvers will be worth the wait!

The completed guns will then be judged by a panel consisting of Master engravers and the winning engraver awarded $10,000 in prize money. This is not a FEGA sponsored event.

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