This rare NAA (North American Arms) Breaktop .22 Magnum was handcut by Erica True of the Baron Custom Shop, and features the USA Shooting team logo on its cylinder. A special serial number, USA2012, was assigned to it. This pistol is on Gunbroker.com, with a current bid of $2,275. (Tom Lent/Baron Custom Shop photo.)

During the last few months, Tom Lent of the Baron Custom Shop restored this 1905 .380 Savage Pistol for  a client. It was in pretty bad shape when Tom received it, but it turned out beautifully.

Heidi Roos from Baron’s Custom Shop did the hand engraving. (Dantzig photos.)

Ruger® SR1911 w/Old Glory Grips

On April 12, during the recent NRA Annual Meetings, The 2012 National NRA Foundation held a banquet and live auction at the St. Louis Rams’ Edward Jones Dome stadium to benefit the programs for the Friends of the NRA. Baron Technology, Inc. was proud to have worked on and either donate or provide its services to seven of many auctioned items. The seven items, listed below, garnered a total of $24,400, for the Friends of the NRA.

Colt 1911 “Black Army” Custom Pistol, 1 of 1 (.45ACP)

Donations by: Colt Manufacturing and Baron Technology, Inc.  

Colt Manufacturing and Baron Technology, Inc. have collaborated once again on an absolutely exquisite collector’s item that recognizes Friends of NRA’s 20 years of fundraising for the future of the shooting sports. Starting with a limited edition Colt 1911 pistol, specially accessorized with authentic African elephant ivory, the Trumbull, Connecticut-based Baron Technology, Inc. used modern engraving techniques to elevate this firearm from great to enchanting. Designed to commemorate the 1911 pistol used by the U.S. Military during WWI, the 1911 is notorious for its almost black finish and its nickname “Black Army.” On one side of the bright polished black slide, the Friends of NRA 20th Anniversary two-stripes, two-stars design is etch-engraved with selectively plated 24K gold, and on the other, the text “Ensuring the Future of the Shooting Sports” is bracketed between the years “1992” and “2012,” with similar gold-plated etching. The unique, one of one pistol is noted as such on the slide and surrounded by intricately etched scrolling. The Rampant Colt image and the Serpentine Colt logo stand out in 24K gold on the left and right rear panels, respectively. Finally, the authentic African elephant ivory grips are laser engraved with the iconic NRA logo in the center between the stars above and the waving stripes below. Patriotic, historic, proud, and beautiful, the end result is an outstanding collaborative effort. It was auctioned off for $6,750.

Browning Gran Citori Lightning (12GA), 1 of 1

Donations by: Browning Arms Company and Baron Technology, Inc.

This over/under shotgun features deeply blued barrels, receiver, top lever and trigger guard, and a gloss-finished walnut stock. In the classic Browning tradition, the trigger is gold. The checkering is a fineline, 24-per-inch cut that is true Browning with its sharpness and precision. This look and quality has long been the choice of serious hunters. The engraving for this 1 of 1 shotgun was done in a classic American-style scroll pattern, etched with selective 24K-gold plating. One cameo features NRA’s logo and the other is the Stars and Stripes. Baron Technology, Inc. is proud to support Friends of NRA with the donation of engraving and design services for this Custom Browning Gran Citori Lightning. Auction bidding ended at $3,250.

Ruger®  SR1911 with Old Glory Ivory Grips (.45ACP)

Donations by: Sturm Ruger, Baron Technology, Inc., Eagle Grips, Cabela’s and Lipsey’s

Introducing the Ruger® SR1911™, a classically styled pistol that is designed with all of the modern manufacturing advances you have come to expect from Ruger. Accurate, rugged and reliable, the SR1911 is 100-percent American-made in American factories with American workers. The slide is embellished with hand-engraved, bright, flair-cut scrolls on both sides, and on the right rear panel, the NRA’s logo is surrounded by scrolling. The bonded ivory grips have been hand painted to resemble a faded “Old Glory.” Baron Technology, Inc. is proud to donate all hand engraving services and embellishment time for the Friends of NRA program. The firearm also comes with unique elk grips and the standard issued grips. The pistol sold for $2,700.

Winchester Commemorative Model 70, 1 of 1 (.270Win)

Donations by: Winchester and Baron Technology, Inc.

Considered one of the most legendary rifles ever produced, 2012 marks the 75th anniversary of the Winchester Model 70. A fitting tribute to Jack O’Connor, this commemorative Model 70, chambered in 270 Winchester, features additional engraving and special gold-inlay that will not be found on other tribute rifles available this year. Its highly polished, deeply-blued steel and finely checkered, fancy AAA grade walnut stock make this a truly one-of-one “Rifleman’s Rifle.” The winning bidder paid $2,250.

Canal Street Cutlery Special Edition Catskill Drop Point Hunter on Special St. Louis Arch Stand, 1 of 1

Donations by: Canal Street Cutlery, Baron Technology, Inc. and Legacy Quest Outdoors

For The National NRA Foundation Banquet and Auction in St. Louis, Missouri, Canal Street Cutlery has created a one of a kind St. Louis version of the 2012 Friends of NRA Knife of the Year. Although this knife shares the Knife of the Year’s reclaimed extinct American-chestnut handle, everything else was made uniquely for the evening’s event. The specially enhanced blue/black, D2 carbon-tool steel blade is custom engraved by Baron Technology, Inc. The Friends of NRA 2 Stars, 2 Stripes design is set above “St. Louis 2012,” and to the right is the NRA Annual Meeting logo with the text 1 of 1, all etched in gold and silver. The striking knife is set in a black, walnut display box, and then placed in the nook of a 306 stainless steel replica of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. This expertly crafted set stands a little over 11 inches tall. It sold for $800.

Henry Golden Boy Rifle, Special 20 Year “Don’t Tread on Me” Edition #0001 (.22LR)

The Henry Golden Boy, with its 20-inch, blued, octagonal barrel, American walnut stock, brass butt-plate and gleaming Brasslite receiver, is an American-made beauty that marries past and present. In celebration of Friends of NRA’s 20-year history, this lever-action rifle has an exclusive nickel-plated front band and butt plate that’s embellished with custom roll engraving. On its right side, the rifle features the Franklin “Join or Die” snake and NRA logo. On its left, the Gadsden coiled snake art is accompanied by the Friends of NRA 20-year patriot logo and “Don’t Tread on Me” text. This rifle was the prototype for a run, consecutively serialized “12NRA0001” through “12NRA1125,” that is exclusive to Friends of NRA. It sold for $3,900.

Friends of NRA 20th Anniversary Edition Custom Weatherby with Leupold Scope (.300Wby), 1 of 1

Donations by: Weatherby and Leupold

This collaboration between Weatherby, Baron Technology, Inc. and Leupold has taken an out-of-the-box Vanguard Series 2 Deluxe from standard to incredible. With a beautiful raised comb, Monte Carlo, custom-grade Claro walnut stock, this deluxe rifle features a rosewood forend and grip cap with maple spacers and fineline checkering, which make for a striking combination with the high-gloss blue metalwork. The floorplate is etch engraved with a full-coverage, American-scroll pattern in relief, accented by a selectively plated, simulated 24K-gold wire inlay that surrounds the 20th Anniversary Friends of NRA logo. The text “1 of 1” is beneath the logo to remind the owner just how unique this firearm is. In honor of the anniversary celebrations, the special serial number #VB000020 has been assigned. The barrel has one gold and one silver plated band at the breach and the muzzle, and the text “Protecting the Future of Shooting Sports for 20 years” is scripted on the top of the barrel with gold plating. Functionally, the firearm has a two-stage trigger, three position safety and Leupold VX 3 3.5-10x40mm riflescope. Look for a similar firearm package at 2013 Friends of NRA events as the Gun of the Year. It was auctioned for $4,750.

The rifle, serial no. G170002, is a 30-06 Spfld Classic Featherweight action, and its barrel and receiver are mirror finished in a deep royal blue. The 22-inch barrel’s muzzle area is adorned with two, 24K gold-plated bands that really dress up the rifle’s muzzle. Its bolt is exquisitely jeweled, and the blued, custom-art floorplate’s design commemorates the NWTF’s 36^th Annual Convention.

The stock is a very rare factory custom item. This English Walnut Monte Carlo stock (only used on 650 rifles) is the result of a 1996 special arrangement between Fajen Stock company and Winchester’s New Haven factory. The grain on this English walnut is spectacular, and the high comb area on its left side is beautifully sculpted for a comfortable fit to the shooter’s cheek. The fore and aft grip areas are perfectly embellished with a fine-line checkering, which adds to the stock’s overall visual appeal, and its forend is capped with a dark, walnut tip that is perfectly blended into the forend.

This rifle is sure to garner the attention of the most discerning hunter, and it is hoped that it will raise a large amount of money for the NWTF’s great programs and conservation efforts.

   BTI’s newest hand engraver, Erica True, chose the No. 2-style engraving, as depicted on an original Winchester Model 94. Along with that exquisite scroll work, the receiver’s right side features an engraved image of “Big Ben” in its tower at the north end of the Palace of Westminster and the five Olympic Rings and 2012—the year of the summer Olympics in London. The rings and 2012 are 24K gold plated, as is the outline of the central image and the receiver’s outside border.

Enclosed in a 24K gold-plated outline in the receiver’s left-side, central area is the USA Shooting Team’s logo, which rests comfortably between a set of engraved laurels made from olive branches. The entire panel’s scrollwork is also surrounding by a 24K, gold-plated fine-line that perfectly matches the original Model 94’s pattern.

The bolt, trigger and the hammer were masterfully jeweled to create a stunning visual effect, which adds to the rifle’s overall appeal.

As a sponsor and supporter of USA Shooting, during the past decade, the Wild Sheep Foundation has provided auction opportunities that have generated more than $1 million in funding for the shooting team.

Baron-Engraved 2012 SHOT Show Rifle Raises Funds to Support Outdoor Traditions

Las Vegas, NV-The 2012 SHOT Show auction of a Winchester Model 1892 takedown rifle fully engraved by Baron Technology, Inc (BTI). yielded more than $12,000 for programs in support of America’s hunting and shooting sports heritage.

Coordinated by the Hunting Heritage Trust in conjunction with the NSSF, the SHOT Show …rifle auction on GunBroker.com featured the exquisitely engraved Winchester Model 1892 in commemoration of Baron’s 30th Anniversary.

“No company in the American firearms industry has played a greater role in the success of the SHOT Show auction program than Connecticut-based Baron Engraving. And so, in recognition of Baron’s 30th Anniversary, it is exciting and appropriate that they were invited to select and engrave the 2012 SHOT Show rifle,” commented Bob Delfay, President of the Hunting Heritage Trust.

The 2012 SHOT Show rifle auction was featured exclusively on GunBroker.com with proceeds benefiting the programs of the Youth Shooting Sports Alliance and Hunting Heritage Trust.