We spoke with Engraver, Caroline Strasser – a fitting Bench interview ahead of International Womens Day​​​​.

“My name is Caroline Strasser, and I am a trained engraver specializing in the artistic engraving of rifles. My goal is to transform firearms into objects that feel as if they are telling a story – each line and detail adding character and meaning to the metal.
​​​​​​​
I was born and raised in Graz, Austria, and today I work independently, engraving Strasser firearms.

I have been practicing this craft for about 18 years, and I am proud to carry on this traditional art form. Engraving is a centuries-old craft, and preserving and continuing it through my work means a great deal to me.

Despite the precision and artistry involved in modern engraving, my favorite tools remain the most traditional ones: a chisel and a hammer. These simple instruments connect me directly to the long history of the craft and allow me to shape each piece by hand with patience and care”.

“One engraving project from about ten years ago has stayed with me to this day. A customer asked me to engrave a portrait of his late wife onto his firearm. For portraits, I use a technique that creates the image with thousands of tiny dots, gradually forming a highly detailed picture that can almost look like a photograph etched into the metal.
​​​​​​​
The process requires many hours of focused work. During that time, I spent countless hours studying her face. In a way, I felt as if I got to know her through the engraving. By the end of the project, it felt like I had known her for years. It was a deeply meaningful experience and remains one of the engraving projects I remember most fondly.”
“My passion is the craft itself. And if I ever had to take a rifle with me into the desert, it would of course be a Strasser – simply because I know our firearms best.”

“For me, engraving is more than decoration. It is storytelling through metal, tradition carried forward through skilled hands, and proof that true artistry comes from mastery”.