Firearms Engraving
By the time the first firearms were invented (probably early in the 14th century), the tradition of engraving weapons had long been established. Because the state of metallurgy and machining was an inexact science in those days, the production of firearms — and, consequently, the engraving of firearms — evolved slowly throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. In those days, literate people (mainly priests) did not associate with “gunners,” who were thought to be in league with the devil. As civilizations evolved, however, firearms became increasingly accepted.
Before the mass production of firearms became commonplace, each gun was handmade and engraved with decorations or images on the metal of the lock, barrel and hardware (and sometimes the wood of the stock) of the gun. Military weapons were usually the only firearms to lack this type of adornment, but even these were often carved or scratched by soldiers with initials or other identifying characteristics.