Does refurbishing a collecter grade gun de value it

I say shoot them until they need refinishing, refinish them and start shooting them again. That's what they were made for. The only one I own I would not refinish is my grandfathers model 71 and thats because every bruise, scratch and metal spot worn to silver lets me relive his hunting stories when I hold that rifle and admire it.

Nicely stated...
 
Sure wish someone could refurbish OLD FARTS. I would not even care if some could tell or it dropped the value
Be sweet to pee my name in the snow again rather than fight to keep my shoes dry
;) ;) ;)
 
Sure wish someone could refurbish OLD FARTS. I would not even care if some could tell or it dropped the value
Be sweet to pee my name in the snow again rather than fight to keep my shoes dry
;) ;) ;)

Nobody ever tell you not to pee into the wind there 3macs1?

There are collectors and then there are hoarders.

So I suppose to some being a collector gun is something that looks pretty all gussied up and to others if it isnt rusted solid and everything cycles then it is a shooter.

I fall into the later and would rather have something that I am not worried I am going to break it, dent or scratch it while it is in use.

Now to go and watch Art work his magic.

Rob
 
How do these guns get salt damaged in the first place that they require a restoration.

They were supplied from the factory with salt wood.
This should help but it was not just brownings like many think
In 1965 a large salt wood supplier sent wood not only to Browning for use but also to Bishop, Fajen, Winchester, Ruger and to the US Military for M-14 stocks.
Fix the link

ht tp://www.trapshooters.com/threads/browning-saltwood-explained.77406/
 
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North American made guns tend to be devalued by restoration more so than English made guns. However, if a gun is quite rough then I can't see how restoring it PROPERLY would hurt it. There are those that would rather have a properly restored gun than one that looks like hell and is barely functional. In my opinion, a restored gun will be worth more than a gun would have been at 50% condition unless maybe it is an extremely rare gun. Of course the cost of restoration isn't cheap.

This is the truth. It's funny what some people consider collector firearms. As you can imagine I see a lot of guns in my line of work and people are always going on about how this one or that one is rare and valuable. Oddly enough those "rare and valuable" guns are usually worth around the same as two tanks of gas in my half-ton. Still, I treat them all like they were mine. It's only fair.
 
Sure wish someone could refurbish OLD FARTS. I would not even care if some could tell or it dropped the value
Be sweet to pee my name in the snow again rather than fight to keep my shoes dry
;) ;) ;)

Half a ###### should sort you out nicely. My toes still get a little damp but I blame that on big feet rather than a short pitot tube.
 
They were supplied from the factory with salt wood.
This should help but it was not just brownings like many think
In 1965 a large salt wood supplier sent wood not only to Browning for use but also to Bishop, Fajen, Winchester, Ruger and to the US Military for M-14 stocks.

It's a good thing that Post 64 Winchesters are essentially worthless.
 
If you are going to shoot it restore it if required. If you are going to hang it on your wall as a historical piece or an investment and maybe shoot it once or twice as a novelty, leave it alone.

I have both types.

Its like buying a nice old car. If you want to drive it to car shows you'll have to replace your original oil filter, air filter, points, spark plugs, buff the paint, and polish the chrome at some point.

Maybe with guns you have decreased the value but ultimately it will come down to the rarity and the buyer preference.
 
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