John Pease didn’t set out to become a “maker.” He simply followed the pull of art, history, and steel.
Today, Pease is a Master Engraver at Colt Manufacturing Company, creating some of the most collectible, investment-grade revolvers in modern firearms. But his path began decades earlier, long before titles or factory floors entered the picture.
“I was always a pretty good artist,” Pease said. “My mother painted and drew, and that always interested me.”
The spark turned into a calling when he encountered a finely engraved German drilling from his grandfather’s gun collection. The intricate scrollwork fascinated him. By age 14, Pease was hunting down books, magazines, and photographs, anything that revealed the art of engraving.
A high school tour of Smith & Wesson quietly changed his trajectory. There, he met a local engraver who began mentoring him.
“He showed me tool design and what you really need to start engraving,” Pease said.
Apprenticeship Before Accolades
At 20, Pease entered the trade full-time as an apprentice engraver, spending a decade learning the discipline through production work. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was foundational.
In 1985, he went independent, spending 26 years building a reputation piece by piece. That independence honed his style, sharpened his patience, and prepared him for what came next.
In 2016, Pease joined Colt.
“I plan to finish my career here,” he said. “The work I do now is at the level of fine art.”
Why the Maker Series Starts Here
The Maker Series isn’t about volume or velocity. It’s about why things are made the way they are, and who ensures they’re done right.
Pease’s engraving work sits at that intersection.
“I like working with individuals to create their vision,” he explained. “Some are very specific. Others leave more to the artist. But knowing these pieces will be in family collections for generations, that’s very satisfying.”
Many of the firearms Pease engraves are never fired. That’s intentional.
“These are heirlooms,” he said. “Investment pieces. Something you pass down.”
Some carry family crests. Others honor military or law enforcement service projects that Pease says bring special meaning.
“Knowing we’re doing pieces dedicated to service men and women, that matters.”
The Single Action: A Perfect Canvas
Asked if one Colt platform stands above the rest, Pease doesn’t hesitate.
“The single action,” he said. “The lines, the proportions, it’s a beautiful gun. It’s easy to enhance something that already has such strong character.”
The classic Colt single-action revolver isn’t just historically significant; it’s visually honest. For an engraver, that matters.
A Brief History of Colt Revolvers and Their Collectability
What's the big deal about Colt? They're a coveted canvas for a world-class artist like Pease. Colt revolvers already have a legendary reputation in American history, and for all the right reasons. Back in 1836, Samuel Colt founded Colt’s Patent Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company and changed the game with the Colt Paterson, the first repeating revolver that actually caught on. That breakthrough led to famous models like the Colt Walker, the 1851 Navy, and the 1860 Army.
Advice for the Next Generation of Makers
Engraving isn’t a shortcut trade, and Pease doesn’t pretend otherwise.
“It takes dedication, discipline, and patience,” he said. “You can’t get discouraged. But it’s still very rewarding.”
That mindset, commitment without guarantees, is exactly what defines a true maker.
Why Colt Feels Like Home
“There’s no stronger brand,” Pease said.
“Colt has always been a pinnacle of small-arms manufacturing. Their history is tied to the history of our nation.”
That connection, to heritage, responsibility, and permanence, is why this story opens The Maker Series.
Because before innovation, before trends, before technology, someone has to make it right, and John Pease is one of our industry's finest Makers.
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The Hunting Wire’s “Maker Series” takes you behind the scenes with the people who create the gear hunters and shooters rely on. Instead of talking about new gadgets, we focus on - and celebrate - the machinists, engineers, designers, builders, and the decision-makers in our industry. Want to share your Maker Series story? Reach out!
Jay Pinsky, Editor, The Hunting Wire & The Archery Wire
jay@theoutdoorwire.com