model 12 refinish

S

sealevel

CGN Regular
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Location
grandforks bc
i just got a real nice tight model 12. a 1957 3 in. mag. the wood is new and nice but the metal refinish is shoddy . i hot blue so i can make it nice . so is there any value to a refinished model 12 ???
 
Sure there is. I nicely finished Model 12 usually goes for 500+

Just depends on whether or not the person looking for an original or refinished. I personally would go for the refinished vs beat up
 
Sure there is. I nicely finished Model 12 usually goes for 500+

Just depends on whether or not the person looking for an original or refinished. I personally would go for the refinished vs beat up
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No offence, but I think your a little behind on the current market value of model 12s.
$300 will get you a very nice field grade one.

OP, I wouldn't bother.
 
HI: check the Ontario auction s, 300 or less for field grade but yes the 3 inch in nice shape will hit close to 500. Some special one just sold for 700 to 1100 range.
 
In the US market, the value of a refinish on a model 12 will drastically change the value of the gun just because of the collector market and overall attitude towards Winchester. Doesn't seem to change much here in Canada. You say yours is a 3" magnum. You may want to check to see if there is any original value in a 1950's "Heavy Duck" model. Best to be informed before you start restoring it.
I have owned three model 12s. One was refinished before I got it and I sold it. It had been reblued by someone who polished it too aggressively, wore off the edges, and it turned a deep plumb colour. This is a trait of the Winchester steel if you don't hit the correct temps and use the right chemicals. I refinished a 1921 nickel steel model myself by hand polishing to preserve the stampings and edges then rust bluing it. I was pleased with the result. I also have one I had professionally blued that turned out a beautiful deep black and looks brand new. I am a fan of restoring them, but only if there is no value in them unrestored and it's done properly.
 
Already refinished once, badly, can only be improved by good bluing.
It has already been taken out of the collector realm, and is just a serious using gun.
It is hard to recover the cost of professional bluing work if you are just looking to turn over the gun.
 
Since the gun is, essentially, a user and not a collector, you're not going to hurt anything with a good quality reblue. You probably won't make a ton of money on that project, but if the previous job was shoddy then you stand a good chance of increasing the value.

North Americans need to get over this obsession with leaving firearms in original condition. Once they have a bunch of wear on them it only makes sense to have them freshened up. You wouldn't let the paint start flaking off your car or your house and not address it.
 
Field grade guns have no great collector value even in the U.S. a bad refin is worse than leaving it in its rough orginal condition . Standar field grade 3" model 12 in average shooter condition in Canada $250-450
 
I bought my 1961 model 12 3" magnum a few years ago for $500. It was in great shape, bluing was excellent, only problem the stock finish was flaking off. I cleaned that off and refinished it, and it is an excellent gun well worth what I payed for it.
 
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