Custom Knife & Gun Engraving

A knife or firearm can be more than a functional object. With the right engraving, it can become a work of art, a personal heirloom, or a piece that carries a story for generations.

At Custom Fine Metal, custom knife and gun engraving is approached as traditional hand engraving, not simply surface decoration. Every design is carefully planned, and every cut is made by hand by FEGA Master Engraver Phil Bartolotta.

From classic scrollwork and lettering to fully custom ornamental designs, each project is created specifically for the piece and the person behind it

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Custom Knife Engraving

Custom knife engraving can range from a simple monogram or inscription to intricate ornamental work covering the bolsters, handle components, or other suitable surfaces.

Popular knife engraving designs include:

  • Traditional scrollwork

  • Floral and botanical designs

  • Monograms and initials

  • Names and dates

  • Family crests and symbols

  • Geometric patterns

  • Custom artwork

  • Deep relief and ornamental engraving

  • Bulino Engraving

close up of an engraved bear etched onto a knife

Custom Gun Engraving

Firearms have a long history of ornamental engraving. From traditional scrollwork to highly detailed relief work, engraved firearms have been used to showcase craftsmanship, commemorate important pieces, and create objects worthy of being passed down.

At Custom Fine Metal, firearm engraving is approached with the same attention to design, material, and execution as any other piece of fine metalwork.

Traditional firearm engraving often incorporates flowing scrollwork, borders, shading, lettering, and other ornamental elements.

Depending on the firearm and the available surfaces, a design might include:

  • English-style scrollwork

  • Floral ornament

  • Game and wildlife imagery

  • Borders and panels

  • Monograms

  • Names and inscriptions

  • Relief engraving

  • Custom ornamental designs

  • Bulino Engraving

close up of an engraved gun showing birds flying in a field.

Why Work With a FEGA Master Engraver?

Custom knife and firearm engraving demands more than a steady hand. It requires an understanding of design, metallurgy, traditional engraving techniques, and how those elements come together on a finished object.

In January 2026, Phil Bartolotta was awarded Master Engraver status by the Firearms Engravers Guild of America (FEGA). That recognition represents years of studying traditional engraving, refining technique, and developing an understanding of how different metals respond under the cut.

That experience informs the entire process, from deciding whether a material is suitable for engraving to developing the layout and executing the final cuts.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Knife & Gun Engraving

  • No. The material and heat treatment of the knife matter. Some steels engrave beautifully, while hardened or particularly tough alloys may not be suitable for traditional hand engraving. Each knife should be evaluated before engraving.

  • Not necessarily. The specific firearm, its materials, surface treatments, construction, and available engraving surfaces all need to be considered. An evaluation before the project begins helps determine what is possible.

  • Traditional gun engraving is a form of ornamental hand engraving historically used to decorate firearms with scrollwork, borders, lettering, relief work, and other detailed designs. Modern engravers can draw from these traditions while creating entirely custom designs.

  • The timeline depends on the size, material, design complexity, and amount of engraving involved. A simple inscription requires significantly less time than a fully developed ornamental or relief engraving.

In the Gallery you can see these techniques at work, let some of the other tales I’ve helped tell inspire you to tell your own.

Gallery