Picked up a Browning Auto 5 and an Ithaca model 900 need advice.

spoc

spoc

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UPDATE
Well I stripped down the stock and finished it with Tru Oil. This was my first time trying this and I think it turned out ok. Now off to the Ithaca.




I picked up 2 shotguns today and I need a little advice. I got a Belgium made Browning Auto 5 12 gauge with a full choke and an Ithaca model 900 12 gauge with a full choke as well. I paid $450 for the pair so I think I got a good deal. The Browning's stock is worn a bit and there is a few spots where the bluing has been worn off. It looks like a plain jane model so I was thinking about having the stock refinished. Would I be hurting the value of the gun or should I just leave it as is? The Ithaca has a cracked stock and I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get a replacement?









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`Come on, you mean you didn't pay the going rate of $1400.00 to $1800.00 for the A5???
If it was mine, I would have no qualm about refinishing the stock on the A5. It is a shooter.
Repair the crack on the Ithaca.
 
gunsaholic said:
`Come on, you mean you didn't pay the going rate of $1400.00 to $1800.00 for the A5???
If it was mine, I would have no qualm about refinishing the stock on the A5. It is a shooter.
Repair the crack on the Ithaca.
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LOL, I'll sell it for $1000 on the EE. Thanks for the advice, I figured it would be a good project gun.
 
Is that a 900XL Ithaca? I'll fix that repair for you.... ;) Refinish the A5 - it's a shooter and a little TLC will keep it shooting for years to come.
 
Judging by the Auto 5 prices on the EE lately, you should not refinish it and keep it as is. If you do the math of what they sold for a couple years ago and the new asking price that gun will be worth 100,000 in about 27 years.

Seriously, that looks like a great project. I used true oil on a few stocks and a lot of patience and they turned out great. Good buy and good luck.
 
Claven2 said:
Auto 5's are still $500 guns all day long for nice examples at all my lgs's. Anything more is just crazy...
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Yep. I bought an Auto 5 with the factory plain barrel and an extra Japanese vent rib barrel. Bought the set off the EE, for believe it or not, $500.00 shipped. Thing is, the fellow started it at I think $575.00, with no takers and lowered it to $500.00. The gun works great. At the same time, another fellow had a 3" magnum lowered to $450.00 as he had no takers. How some think theirs are worth over twice as much within a year is beyond me.
Of course pristine examples will bring more, but man, one has to be realistic.
 
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gunsaholic said:
Yep. I bought an Auto 5 with the factory plain barrel and an extra Japanese vent rib barrel. Bought the set off the EE, for believe it or not, $500.00 shipped. Thing is, the fellow started it at I think $575.00, with no takers and lowered it to $500.00. The gun works great. At the same time, another fellow had a 3" magnum lowered to $450.00 as he had no takers. How some think there's are worth over twice as much within a year is beyond me. Of course pristine examples will bring more, but man, one has to be realistic.
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Realism goes out the window with certain niche guns. If you believe the Internet hype about John Browning and the Auto 5 then they are worth a bazillion. The truth is the gun doesn't really have a place anymore. No one is using them seriously for clay targets, there are better hunting guns available and the design is overly complex and fussy.

So the OP won't hurt the value of the gun by refinishing the A5 stock if that is his wish. The Ithaca stock could be repaired with some high strength bond but it shouldn't be that hard to find a replacement. Is Ron Sharp still in business? He is (was?) the Ithaca guru in Canada and might be able to locate one. The next place I'd look is Western Gun Parts in Edmonton because it avoids border hassles. Finally I'd try Numrich in the U.S. IIRC they do still ship to Canada.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but looking at the receiver, that is the regular 900, which is spring operated, the 900 XL (gas operated) has the full silver side with the picture in the silver (blued section).

Based on what I recall of these anyway
 
mxzx440 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but looking at the receiver, that is the regular 900, which is spring operated, the 900 XL (gas operated) has the full silver side with the picture in the silver (blued section).

Based on what I recall of these anyway
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I think you might be right. Might explain the cracked stock as well
 
mxzx440 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but looking at the receiver, that is the regular 900, which is spring operated, the 900 XL (gas operated) has the full silver side with the picture in the silver (blued section).

Based on what I recall of these anyway
Click to expand...

You're right it is the regular 900. I will be looking at replacing or repairing the stock on this one.
 
Claybuster said:
Realism goes out the window with certain niche guns. If you believe the Internet hype about John Browning and the Auto 5 then they are worth a bazillion. The truth is the gun doesn't really have a place anymore. No one is using them seriously for clay targets, there are better hunting guns available and the design is overly complex and fussy.

So the OP won't hurt the value of the gun by refinishing the A5 stock if that is his wish. The Ithaca stock could be repaired with some high strength bond but it shouldn't be that hard to find a replacement. Is Ron Sharp still in business? He is (was?) the Ithaca guru in Canada and might be able to locate one. The next place I'd look is Western Gun Parts in Edmonton because it avoids border hassles. Finally I'd try Numrich in the U.S. IIRC they do still ship to Canada.
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Thanks I'll take a look at Western Gun Parts.
 
You got a great deal there ! Used auto-5 barrels alone go for $250 - $300 , or so it seems lately . I bought a Hastings paradox rifled slug barrel for my auto-5 years ago and payed a lot for it then ! It's a keeper though. It shoots like a rifle with sabots.
Waiting to see your refinished wood. I have an old Remington model 11 I've been thinking on stripping and re-doing , but just can't quite take the plunge. Maybe some nice pictures will knock me off the fence.
 
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