Lead engraver for Lefever Arms, Lee Center, N.Y. from 1992 to 1995. Extensive experience in restoring the engraving and duplicating the cutting style and engraving patterns of various makes of firearms including all of the great American side by side shotguns and the Winchester model 12, 42, and 21, as well as Purdey, Holland and Holland, and Perazzi shotguns.
Engraver for the Romano Rifle Co., manufacturer of the highly acclaimed Spencer reproduction rifle. Stephen successfully engraved the "Cheney Spencer" engraving pattern originally engraved by the famous Nimschke in 1868. This was Nimschke's most superb and profuse work.
Ed Muderlak, author of the book Parker Guns, writes in Shooting Sportsman (March/April 1998) that "Stephen Olin of Mexico, New York, is a traditional hand engraver who can mimic Parker patterns so well that they are all but indistinguishable from he originals." Although Stephen does not specialize in any single scroll style, the Parker A1 Special pattern is a favorite.
Lead engraver for Ithaca Gun Company LLC. Stephen engraved the Ithaca model 37 $5,000 dollar grade for the National Firearms Museum. Stephen also engraves all the standard Ithaca engravings as well as custom engravings for this fine and venerable AMERICAN gun manufacturer now located in King Ferry NY.
Lead engraver for Andy's Custom Shop in nearby Utica NY. Andy Wojtowycz is a past owner/partner of Lefever Arms. Trained at the Winchester factory (Lefever Arms was a Winchester service center) Andy Wojtowycz is the country's foremost restorer of the Winchester model 12, model 42 and model 21 Winchester firearms.
Cover photo of Stephen's engraving of the Ithaca Model 37 $5,000 Dollar Grade appeared on Shotgun Sports cover , America's Leading Shotgun Magazine in the April 2003 edition. Shotgun Sports cover is displayed at the bottom of this page.
While currently able to accept very few restoration engraving commissions, Stephen's versitility has been nurtured by the necessity of learning to engrave the many styles of engraving for restoraton purposes early in his career. Stephen explains that "The Robert E. Maki School of Firearms Engraving ,where I was enrolled as a student in 1987, put great emphasis on the quality of the cut. By paying careful attention to the cut itself, as well as the original technique and tools used, a proper restoration of the original engraving can be accomplished.
Stephen's experience in restoration engraving has been rewarding in that it has allowed him to become very versatile in his custom engraving work, yet remain within the bounds of tradition.
