My father loved engraving. Specifically, he admired the bold and creative style of American Style Engraving. He had previously worked with the Colt Custom Shop supplying custom ivory grips, and also with outstanding American engravers like Ron Smith. “The European scroll and bulino engraving is nice, but it’s a little light for my taste,” he often told me. “...My heart is really with the American engraving style.”


His design tastes and sense rubbed off on me as we worked together, and as I began to learn about engraving. I attended my first FEGA (Firearms Engraving Guild of America) Show in Reno at age seventeen. It was an epiphany. I had never seen anything like it. From that moment, my eyes were opened to the possibilities of the world of engraving.

My engraving journey had begun. I started studying engraving, including instruction under FEGA master Rex Pedersen. Years passed, and I was fortunate to work with my father full-time at Altamont. Our company primarily specialized in designing and making pistol grips, ranging from high volume production grips to speciality exclusives. We continued to do custom projects and designs, sometimes crossing paths with well-known engravers such as Lee Griffiths.

We had worked with TALO Distributors on the specialty pistol grip side for many years. In 2012, we created the Colt 1911 Iwo Jima tribute for them as a limited edition - One of 300. It was an unprecedented deep relief engraving, and the start of Altamont engraved guns. Six years and numerous projects later we are still refining our craft, and honing our design and engraving skills. Altamont, and I personally, have come a long way. But in engraving, the journey never ends. There is always a new idea to try, and a new steel canvas waiting.


We want to bring a unique and bold approach to every engraving project we touch. We hold ourselves to a very high standard. Behind any great engraving are countless hours of agonizing failure and revisions to a design. Beyond any hammer, air-powered graver, or engraving machine, there is a driving vision to see the idea to completion. We believe that the extra hours and effort makes all the difference. It’s worth it.

If we have captured even a portion of American boldness and creativity in our engraving, we have been successful. We thank you for your support, as we continue our engraving journey.



Merlin Enright

ALTAMONT® 2018

Engraving Grading Information

ALTAMONT FACTORY ENGRAVED SERIES

Altamont Factory Engraved Series firearms feature exclusive patterns designed by master engravers, perfected and executed one gun at a time. Multiple firearms in each configuration will be produced, although production is limited by the many hours of engraving time and hand craftsmanship applied to each individual firearm.

ALTAMONT SPECIAL EDITION SERIES

Altamont Special Edition Series firearms feature unique, thematic patterns designed by master engravers, with a set Limited Edition quantity that cannot be exceeded. As these firearms will be more rare and ultimately more difficult to obtain, they may have additional collector interest.

ENGRAVING GRADES

GRADE A	Factory Engraving Coverage of the main firearm sections. Standard depth of traditional deep relief engraving.
GRADE AA	Extensive Engraving Coverage including special detailing on accent components. Special or extra depth considerations specifically custom to the engraving pattern.
GRADE AAA	Master Level Coverage. Exquisite and complex detailing and coverage. Engraved at the ideal or maximum depth of spectacular deep relief engraving.
EXHIBITION / MUSEUM GRADE	Perfectly engraved firearms with no perceivable flaws, exhibition wood or ‘one of a kind’ exotic material.
PROTOTYPE / CUSTOM GRADE	Early, unique or deviant versions of an engraving pattern, which may reflect the development of the engraving pattern, may be ‘one of a kind’ or highly rare for certain features, and may be of collector interest.

Note : On Altamont Factory Engraved Series firearms produced by Colt Mfg., the traditional Colt Coverage Grading System - A / B / C / D Coverage - may be referenced.