Whenever I have visited the Val Trompia area in northern Italy, there are two questions I have always avoided: “How much does this cost,” and “How long did it take to do this?” The answer generally is, “This is not something we can talk about.”
This knowledge came in handy when I needed to talk to the best engravers in the Valley/Valley(do you mean the American Valley or the Trompia Valley?).
Remember: engravers are artists, and as such, they are genetically accepted as something eccentric, which means that they think much more about the work of art they create through engraving rather than the realistic compensation of their talent.
With Dassa Brothers, if you are specific and everyone agrees on the quantity and type of engravings, they will guarantee a quote that will not change, as well as give you a reliable delivery date (if nothing changes during processing). When I visited the Dassa Engraving workshop on my last trip to Italy in March, I asked them what they could engrave, and the following are the answers.
Question: Can you engrave a revolver with a hand-painted enamel Confederate flag on one side of the castle and the Union Jack on the other?
Answer : No problem, what size are you thinking of? Look at the image to understand how we make it.
Question: What if it was a knife (even a small one) engraved with scenes with animals?
Answer : Sure. We can put the client’s favorite horse on one side, and maybe a dog on the other. Anything is possible, but remember that there is less steel that can be etched on a knife than on a gun.
Question: What if you needed a combination of engraving techniques on a specific object, including the deep German high relief style, delicate scenes made with the burin technique, and elaborate chiseled ornaments that appear integrated with each other when the work is completed?
Answer : Yes, but a certain budget must be considered, as this is a major job that can take a long time.
Question: Can you engrave and personalize wristwatches and pocket watches?
Answer : There are many possibilities with clocks. The depth of metal is to be strongly considered with regard to clocks, so please let us know exactly what you are interested in.
Question: Is it possible to engrave belt buckles, bridles, spikes, spurs, jewelry, pens, metal plates, musical instruments, and maybe even golf clubs?
Answer : Yes, the possibilities are almost endless. Anything imagined can most likely be realized, plus we may be able to add some design elements that the client did not think of.
Dassa Engravings will accept individual requests for engraving weapons, either based on original models or with their own design, such as for the Single Action shown on the cover of their most recent catalog.
To contact the Dassa Engraving workshop, visit engravingsidassa.com and click on “Hand Engravings,” then on the Union flag icon in the upper right corner to select the English language.
If you would like to contact them directly (e-mail is preferable) the company’s contact information can also be found on their website. If you need an Italian translation to communicate specific details and request a quote on a specific engraving request, contact Elena Micheli-Lamboy(micheli-lamboy@rochester.rr.com), who is not only Italian but also has decades of experience working with Val Trompia engravers.
Of course, there is a price for his services, which depends on the amount of hours needed for individual requests.
