Don't be this guy!

What we need to keep in mind is the context in which most of these issues reared their ugly heads. I see the same thing with vintage cars. What I mean by “ context” is what was the guns public status when they were violated ( for lack of a better word). Most guns that have buggered screw heads or otherwise are the victim of backyard “gunsmithing” are prewar guns. Why this matters for context, is that while many of the guns with buggered screw heads (as example) started life as quality pieces but after 20-30 years, they are “just old guns”. In the 1950’s, my Dad routinely bought prewar Winchester lever guns for peanuts. Most he paid between $15 and $25 for. These were not for clunkers, these were near mint 86’s, 73’s, 76’s and of course a boatload of 92’s and 94’s. Today you can multiply those values by 100x or more for some. In the 50’s, these are just “old guns” with no collector value. It is entirely possible that the gun pictured in the OP may have sold for next to nothing when it was in the catagory of just an old, outdated gun. Would anyone get their knickers in a twist if they came across a cooey 840 with buggered screw heads?? Doubt it but when the heads get buggered on a valuable gun, it is usually on a gun that at one time was just an “old gun” so deemed to be “ no foul” for buggering the heads on a gun of little value. NOBODY buggers screw heads on a gun they paid a LOT of money for so if a nice collector piece is found with buggered heads, IMO, it happened when the gun was in its “ just an old gun” stage in life. Being a “car guy” also, we see this same phenomenon as well. An old car that was butchered at some point in its life when it was just a cheap old car that now has become a collectors dream and very valuable had it not been butchered. Using a car example, back in the 80’s I knew a guy with a 1970 hemi, 4spd Superbird that he bought for a few thousand bucks in the mid 70’s. At that time it had little value as it was too hard on fuel and insurance rates for muscle cars was steep. They would back the car into the lake and dive off the wing. That car today is well north of $1 million (he still has it). When it was just an old car worth a few thousand bucks it was no big deal to use it as a diving platform but now that it is over a million?????. While I believe that ALL things mechanical should be treated with respect, context is important to understand HOW such things can happen.
 
LTK, the context surrounding this gun is an interesting story. It was in the maker's oak case lined with silk velvet in royal purple. Like the gun it had seen neglect or abuse. It was at one time very nice indeed. The top of the case is upholstered to give it body (like the headboard in your car I guess).The accessories of the case were missing at sale but would have been very valuable in today's market. In the 1-$2,000 range would think. The lining of the case had damage from something inside that was corrosive and lately that has been my project - making the case presentable and thinking about the accessories.
So it wasn't exactly a hardware store gun. It was not a highly engraved or extra fancy shotgun but a very well made example from one of Belgium's largest and respected makers, Auguste Francotte. You might think of his gunmaking concern as similar to Birmingham's Greener. Not much in common with Cooey.
 
Londonshooter said:
LTK, the context surrounding this gun is an interesting story. It was in the maker's oak case lined with silk velvet in royal purple. Like the gun it had seen neglect or abuse. It was at one time very nice indeed. The top of the case is upholstered to give it body (like the headboard in your car I guess).The accessories of the case were missing at sale but would have been very valuable in today's market. In the 1-$2,000 range would think. The lining of the case had damage from something inside that was corrosive and lately that has been my project - making the case presentable and thinking about the accessories.
So it wasn't exactly a hardware store gun. It was not a highly engraved or extra fancy shotgun but a very well made example from one of Belgium's largest and respected makers, Auguste Francotte. You might think of his gunmaking concern as similar to Birmingham's Greener. Not much in common with Cooey.
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I think you may have misunderstood what I was getting at. I was not suggesting in any way that your Francotte was like a Cooey in any way. I was pointing out that most things like guns and cars that eventually become valuable collector pieces first pass through a stage where they were just old (and often considered obsolete to a degree) tools with little value. It is at this stage in Their life that most get butchered because “who cares, it’s just an old out dated gun/car that is not worth much”.
 
Londonshooter said:
Not at all. I get entirely what you were saying and agree. It's a shame because these things now are meaningful to us.
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True. Buggered screw heads are a PITA but at least they are easily dealt with (usually). I view them like rock chips in a windshield of a classic car. Sucks but is relatively easily fixed compared to if the rock had bounced off the hood or hit the A pillar or something. This looks like someonesattempt at ……. Checkering??????? Thankfully whoever did this didn’t own your Francotte 😁IMG_2646.jpeg
 
LTK, that attempt at chequering will give me nightmares tonight, no mistake.

Some attempts at 'repairs' or 'cleaning up' can be well-intentioned, even reasonably done, but still disastrous in my mind.

Here is a best-quality James Purdey first-pattern thumb-hole action with the double sliding underbolt, made in 1865. The first pattern is different from the subsequent thumb-hole patterns in that the pivot point of the underlever is midway under the action bar, instead of immediately in front of the trigger guard bow. A minor but important distinction; very, very few first-patterns were made, and are rarer than hen's teeth (good luck on seeing another, is all I can say). The condition of the metal parts is impeccable.

However, someone decided the chequering needed refreshing, and the result is not up to the standard of the original, to say the least. No Purdey would have left the workshop bench with such a botched job, aside from the fact it is the wrong type of chequering -- points instead of period-correct flat-topped. I wish that the person who decided to have the work done by a local smith had simply left the worn chequering be. The rarity of the gun is such that I couldn't pass on it in this lifetime, but the poor chequering refinish will annoy me for the rest of my days.

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GeviBqt.jpg

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Pinfire said:
LTK, that attempt at chequering will give me nightmares tonight, no mistake.

Some attempts at 'repairs' or 'cleaning up' can be well-intentioned, even reasonably done, but still disastrous in my mind.

Here is a best-quality James Purdey first-pattern thumb-hole action with the double sliding underbolt, made in 1865. The first pattern is different from the subsequent thumb-hole patterns in that the pivot point of the underlever is midway under the action bar, instead of immediately in front of the trigger guard bow. A minor but important distinction; very, very few first-patterns were made, and are rarer than hen's teeth (good luck on seeing another, is all I can say). The condition of the metal parts is impeccable.

However, someone decided the chequering needed refreshing, and the result is not up to the standard of the original, to say the least. No Purdey would have left the workshop bench with such a botched job, aside from the fact it is the wrong type of chequering -- points instead of period-correct flat-topped. I wish that the person who decided to have the work done by a local smith had simply left the worn chequering be. The rarity of the gun is such that I couldn't pass on it in this lifetime, but the poor chequering refinish will annoy me for the rest of my days.

wBCSM51.jpg

GeviBqt.jpg

7Lh31L7.jpg
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That is truly a shame but something seen a LOT. Another home hack is when someone decides to refinish the stock and proceeds to put finish in the checkering. Not TOO terrible to fix but still. Saw a nice John Rigby double rifle in 450/500 at a gun show for sale. Someone “refurbished” it and, yes, slathered finish in all the checkering. Also replaced the butt stock swivel eye with what appeared to be an uncle mikes stud 😩. Like most “restored” guns, would have been much better (and worth a lot more IMO) if it was just left alone.
 
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