It's not unusual (in my limited experience) for a Gr I Express rifle to be signed...…..mostly by relatively unknown FN engravers. There's another one on this thread (posted by 'cartod') signed by Emile Gregoire and I've seen one signed by Willy Rollin.

Common sense tells me those engravers are relatively unknown because the need for engravers steadily declined from 180 in the 60's to 16 in 1987. During that decline, FN would've naturally kept the best engravers that could turn-out any production grade (FN and Browning). It would stand to reason there was little room for advancement if your only capability as an engraver was a Gr I level, as the workforce and demand for Superposed guns diminished.

It would stand to reason there was little room for advancement if your only capability as an engraver was Gr I level, as the workforce and demand for Superposed guns diminished.

regardless of your capability as an engraver.

Thanks for the acknowledgements. I re-thought this statement.....…….and should add, ……. You could have demonstrated the ability to execute the Midas grade (for instance) to an acceptable standard, yet the engravers with long-standing seniority had secured the privilege to execute the more difficult (and higher-paying) patterns, especially in a declining market.

It would be interesting to know who left FN and found success on their own .