To Restore or not to Restore a rifle.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Much discussion and argument has been offered over if a gun should be restored or not.   For me, it very much depends on the gun, and what kind of condition it is in.   If it's not shootable as is, but can be made to be shootable, all bets are off.  Guns exist to be fired, and do whatever it takes to make them that way.   But once that is done, how much farther do you go?  What about guns that are shootable, but just don't look so great?   This is where the arguments get started.

Personally, I think that in some cases, maybe it's a good idea.   In recent weeks, I have heavily pondered the idea of having one or more of my guns restored.   I've done some research, more or less discovered how EXPENSIVE the most respected name in the restoration game is, seen the work of others that look just as good, but don't cost nearly as much, and considered various other factors.  

In the end, each individual owner must decide for himself, or herself, if the gun is to be restored beyond basic functionality.   And by restored, I mean returned to its original appearance as closely as possible, not a simple reblue.
 

All of that being said, I think that there are guns that some of us would look at and say, "I'd have that restored," and others for the exact same gun, would say, "I'd leave that alone."   I have come to feel that none of us are right or wrong in that area.  Perhaps there are even some guns that no one would ever consider any changes to whatsoever.   For example, if I could afford to own it, I would not even think about restoring Colt SAA 1, or a Winchester owned by President Roosevelt.  But beyond such historically significant things, well, there is room for consideration, even if the consideration leads to taking no action.

Okay, enough talk.

This a Marlin 1888 in .32-20.   I have replaced the missing rear sight.  But to me, this gun should now be left alone.  It may not be pristine, but it still looks pretty nice,  and it has acquired its aged look honestly.


This in the other hand is a Costa Rican Army surplus Colt Lightning.  It is NOT nickeled.   That's just the reflection off the surface that has had all of its original finish rubbed away.  I have also had some mechanical work done to it to make it work properly.   It was not extracting fired shells, and I had Lassiter fix it.   This I think is a good candidate for restoration.   Some might balk at that due to its relative rarity, and I get that, but this is one that I will consider.


Now this Marlin 1892, I think is also a good candidate.  It looks similar to the above 1888, but it has had extensive repair work done to it.   The magazine tube is not original, and it needed some action work to make it functional.  Since it's already had to be worked on to make it work, it's a good one to take the rest of the way.  Ironically, if I had found it in this condition and it was just honest aging, I'd leave it alone.


This Marlin 1889 is similar to the above Colt  No original finish left, and you can see the scrub marks from the steel wool that stripped it clean.  Oddly, the butt looks like it's nickel plated and completely unmarred.   I do have a Cody letter for it, but it does not say what its original finish was.  Just to be different, if were to have this gun redone, I'd leave the butt as is.  This one right now is at the top of the list for potential consideration.   I am thinking that if I have it done, and if I am happy with the results, I'll consider other things.

 

This Winchester 73 will remain untouched.  I've seen much better, and far worse, looking guns, but this one I think is fine the way it is.

On the other hand, this Winchester 86 may someday see some work.   The magazine is not original.  It came with a full length magazine originally, but someone chopped it to a button length, and the original 24" barrel has been cut to 20"  While the barrel itself still has nice bluing, everything else is faded away, and of course, the magazine looks brand new.   All of that adds up to it being an option to consider.

And for now, I'm gonna leave it at that.  I do have various pistols that I'd consider, and a couple of shotguns.  (Interesting aside, for some time now, restoring vintage shotguns has been seen as much more acceptable in the collector field for some reason)  But I am really not worried about what all of this does to the "collector value" of my guns.  I am much more interested in how it would enhance my enjoyment of owning them..

What do other people have that they have had restored?  Or that they are considering?  

You may have seen other threads from me in recent weeks where I have touched in this concept.  Some of the more elaborate ideas I was considering are gone.  After much thought and debate, this thread reflects my current thoughts on the subject, especially with regard to the types of guns I'd consider.   That said, would anyone be interested in a similar thread on pistols or shotguns?  

Let me say also that, just for theoretical purposes, that there are 10 guns total that I would absolutely consider "worth" restoring.  I doubt if more than 2 or 3 of them will have that done to them, for various reasons.

 

[Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655]

To me any old gun has earned its dings and restoration efforts generally reduce value and collectability.  Having said that repairs to gain function and relining or replacing shot out or corroded out barrels to me is a repair and not a restoration.  I recently had a barrel replaced on a circa 1902 win 92 in 44-40.  Left the other dings in it.  Replaced most of the screws again to gain functionality DA/RA which is a pain with rusted and buggered screws. Special Thanks to Buckshot Sheridan for doing the work.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

2 hours ago, Cpt Dan Blodgett, SASS #75655 said:

To me any old gun has earned its dings and restoration efforts generally reduce value and collectability.  Having said that repairs to gain function and relining or replacing shot out or corroded out barrels to me is a repair and not a restoration.  I recently had a barrel replaced on a circa 1902 win 92 in 44-40.  Left the other dings in it.  Replaced most of the screws again to gain functionality DA/RA which is a pain with rusted and buggered screws. Special Thanks to Buckshot Sheridan for doing the work.

 

DA/RA?  

"Value and collectability" are nebulous terms to me.   I know what they mean in absolutist terms, but I don't really concern myself with them.

I look at this way, restoring a gun to factory original condition (or technically as close as possible) is the same as taking a 58 Chevy and restoring it to showroom condition.    Historically, gun collectors have rejected that analogy, but I think it's one that makes sense.   With the car analogy, rebuilding the original 283 V8 is a legit part of the restoration, as is rebuilding the original two speed Powerglide transmission.   Dropping in more modern Corvette even though it's the same block, and a four on the floor transmission, is the same as "sporterizing" a classic gun.

Now, your 92, since you had to replace the barrel, I'd been more likely to go all the way with a full restoration.  But if you could have kept the original barrel and just relined it, I probably would have left it alone.

In the end, I don't think either of us are wrong.  

[watab kid]

the only things id do to those is clean them and keep them oiled , they have the "LOOK" 

[Bucky Buckskin]

 My buddies Winchester 1895 we color cased hardened and refinished it was a wreck sometime in it’s past life someone fitted a old trap door 45/70 barrel to it poorly and made it a perfect refinish rebuild project ended up as a 50-110 but man with the crescent butt plate you don’t want to pull the trigger too much

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

52 minutes ago, Bucky Buckskin said:

My buddies Winchester 1895 we color cased hardened and refinished it was a wreck sometime in it’s past life someone fitted a old trap door 45/70 barrel to it poorly and made it a perfect refinish rebuild project ended up as a 50-110 but man with the crescent butt plate you don’t want to

 

Wow!  That looks like it's well on the way to  being very beautiful.    Good luck with it.   

I assume you meant a Winchester 86 and not a 95.   But that reminds me of something...

\\

This is actually the first Winchester I ever bought.   When I brought it home from the store, my  father told me I should have it restored.  It's been an idea in my head ever since.  It's mostly grey in color.  This pic is pretty dark, I should take a new one.

 

[Bucky Buckskin]

I got a 1895 30-40 cool gun

Edited March 9 by Bucky Buckskin

[High Spade Mikey Wilson]

That's a hard question to answer at times. Years ago I bought a 1902 manufactured Winchester 1892 in 32-20. The barrel was a sewer pipe and could barely hold a 12" group at 25 yards. The stock and forearm were all dinged up with some big chuncks of wood missing in the stock, but the action worked just fine. I wanted to restore it and shoot it. I sent the barrel out and had it sleeved, and I purchased a rough cut stock and forearm. After a week or so of rasping, sanding, fitting, and refinishing the wood a very nice rifle emerged that shoots like a champ. She's not original, but she got new life.

[Oddnews SASS# 24779]

So much depends on how common the gun is, how well preserved it is, and how well it functions. I think any gun that can be made to shoot, should be made to shoot. I’ve seen Mark Novak on YouTube call “patina” another word for “100 years of bad maintenance.”

I have a 1905 vintage Winchester 1892 rifle in 32-20, and it’s a definite candidate for restoration. The model is common, the condition is overall moderately poor, and the bore is excellent. The hammer screw was, at some point, replaced with a pin that was peened over at each end, effectively a giant rivet. I’ve elected not to restore it because it would be comparatively expensive, and the rifle is a decent shooter as is. But if I have it restored I won’t be destroying a super collectors item as most of that value is already gone.

Edited March 9 by Oddnews SASS# 24779
Spelling

[largo casey #19191]

I have a Whitney-Kennedy Carbine 44/40 I would like to fix back up for a wallhanger.If anyone knows where to get fore end wood let me Know.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Largo

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

5 hours ago, Oddnews SASS# 24779 said:

So much depends on how common the gun is, how well preserved it is, and how well it functions.

 

I agree with all you said.   And I think this particular gun is a good example of a restoration candidate.
 

it's a Second Gen gun, .45 Colt caliber.  Got it for $700 in 2010, which I though was for a song.  As you can see, it has NO original finish left.   Mechanically, it's perfect.  For a gun made in 1971, I can't help but wonder why it looks so worn.   Some have suggested that perhaps it was artificially aged.

Either way, I think it's one I may consider restoring someday.

[watab kid]

i rather like it just like that but , im only giving my opinion here , we all need to have our things the way we like them , 

[Chantry]

If it has no historical or collector value, it's entirely up to you. 

 

If it does have historical or collector value, it is still your gun, but I would discourage you from restoring the gun.

[Griff]

As is this carbine:

Picture doesn't do it justice.  the receiver is badly rusted, the bbl & mag tube also.  Wood, while most of its finish is bad, the actual wood is sound.  (Donated to someone else's project).

This photo shows some of the damage to the receiver & bolt, after some sanding to removed most of the surface rust.

side view after initial sanding.

Shown here in it's new configuration before refinishing.  Where its been stalled for a number of years as I get the action perfected.

 

Previously it was a 44 Mag carbine, now it has a Cowboy Competition bbl in 45 Colt, cut to 17-½" with a recessed crown, Marble's front sight, a Uberti rear sight, forend, (that's undergone a severe diet), buttstock & buttplate from Precision Gun Works.  Planned enhancements are to CCH the receiver, lever, lower plate, jewel the hammer, trigger and (maybe), the right side of the bolt.  Can't decide between that and a deep blue on the bolt.  But, first it has to function as a "Widderma'jik".  

 

Still workin' on it:

Oh yea, even tho' it can't be seen, the carrier'll get jewelled too.  Nuttin' like puttin' lipstick on a pig!

 

Edited March 10 by Griff
finish addin' pics and explanation

[WymoreWrangler SASS 46187L]

Run N Iron in Bertrand Nebraska is a wizard restoring guns....