doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Do you know of an engraver named Kurt Jager Mainz?

I am looking at a gun engraved by Kurt Jager Mainz and have not been able to find much information on this man. Does anyone have other guns engraved by him? If so, can you share your information. Thanks

A member of the Jaeger family that had the gunsmithing operation in Jenkintown, PA and was acquired by Dunn's several years ago. Their operation in Germany was apparently a very extensive operation and provided the engraving services used by Paul Jaeger of Jenkintown, as I understand it. I doubt seriously that "Kurt" did all of the wonderful engraving jobs supplied by his company. Mr. Deitrich Apel, gunsmith, is a former employee of Jaeger, Jenkintown. Inquire at the German Gun Collectors Association website for more information.

I’m not sure Kurt Jaeger did any engraving. From “Gun Engravings by Paul Jaeger” illustrated catalog “Through our connections abroad we offer the services of some of the best remaining German gun Engravers, employed by Kurt Jaeger.”

Michael, from examining my Jaeger folders, I would like to have my gun done in the full coverage, deep relief style. However, I'm trying to decide between the $250.00 job with no gold inlays or the $340.00 style with multiple gold birds and dogs on both sides of the action. Oh, what the heck, it's only money.

I'm not sure what relation Kurt was to Paul Jeager, but Deitrich Apel could tell you as Deitrich is Paul Jeagers nephew. Deitrich worked in Paul Jeagers shop in Jenkintown PA after coming to the US. That was at the time when Kurt Jeager ran a shop in Germany that supplied most of the engraving services to Paul's establishment in the US. Kurt's shop employed several engravers but the 'Kurt Jeager' name went on most every piece. Alot of post WW2 40's and 50's custom guns &engraving w/his name on it. Sporterized '03s, S&W Victorys, etc, along with then new US commercial sporting guns. I have been told but do not know for sure that Claus Willig(sp) was an engraver in Kurt Jeagers shop before coming to the US and working for Paul Jeager.

Kutter --- I have the same understanding. Ken

Well if it's only money, take $10 over to Kornbrath and he would do the same job, only better. I've looked at some of the pages of Kornbrath's workbook and amazed at what he charged. A dollar went a lot further and was harder to come by back then.

Yup, and an early Arnold Griebel brochure and price list in my collection strikes my fancy a bit more than Jaeger also. I remember looking at some of Kornbrath's books and drawings at a Baltimore show maybe 30 some years ago. I wonder who had them then? There was some doubt about them being for sale and I never pushed the right buttons.

Much of the Kornbrath stuff is at the McCracken Research Library at Cody, WY, I spent about a day with it many years ago. The rest was owned by Wilson, not sure if he still has it or not. I did a lot of research on Mr. Kornbrath and went so far a too interview family members. During one of these I found his Journeyman piece, a European double, owned at the time by his grandson who had no idea what it was. Once I explained what this was they told the other family members and things got a little out of hand, I retreated. Neat gun completely covered by Kornbrath engraving and restocked by Tom Shelhamer so he, Kornbrath, could give it to his son for a birthday present.

Michael,

I am ignorant. How can you tell a gun was used as a Journeyman piece? Is it marked in some way? In the guild system was it required to produce a single piece? Was this also required at the Master level?

Pete