Barry Lee Hands offers one on one and group classes in his San Diego or Montana Studios by appointment.
You will receive personally tailored instruction in engraving techniques at the advanced, intermediate, or beginning level depending on your personal
needs.
You will work side by side with Mr. Hands in his engraving studio learning techniques and the business of how a professional engraving shop is run on a
day to day basis.
Courses are five days in length and include Bed and Breakfast style accommodations, with meals, and airport pickup on Sunday at Glacier Park international
(FCA) in Kalispell MT, San Diego or Palm Springs CA, and airport drop-off the following Saturday. Tuition is $4950 for 5days instruction and six night’s
accommodation. Courses for two or more students are available by special arrangement with Mr. Hands.
Mr. Hands is an award winning Master Engraver. He was awarded the Firearms Engravers Guild “Best Engraved Rifle” and “Engravers Choice Award of Merit” in
2009 and “Best Engraved Handgun” in 2010 at the ACGG/FEGA Guild convention in Reno.
He is known for his thorough and meticulous layout and design, combining time honored engraving techniques with his own innovative style.
Barry Lee Hands has been a professional Engraver since he was apprenticed at the age of seventeen years. He has worked and studied with engravers such as
Ron Smith and Winston Churchill. His clients have included David Trevallion, Jerry Fisher, Gary Goudy, Lee Helgeland, Craig Boddington, The Winchester
Custom Shop, The Colt Custom shop, C. Sharps Arms Co., Dakota Arms co., and John Rigby and Co. He holds Certified Master status in the Firearms Engravers
Guild of America, and regular membership in the American Custom Gunmakers Guild. He has served as an Engraving Instructor for GRS/Glendo, the Colorado
Gunsmithing Academy of Lamar, and The Ithaca Gun Company.
“ In centuries to come, it is a certainty that the name “Hands” will be referred to with the same respect and artistic reverence as the names of Young,
Nimschke, Ulrich, Helfricht, Kornbrath, Francolini, McKenzie, Churchill, and White.”
- Jim Alaimo, Superintendent, Colt Custom Gunshop, October 18, 1993
“Recognized as working at the Master level of accomplishment”., he is world renowned and in great demand.
-R. L. Wilson from the Colt Book of Engraving
