Modern parts on Antique

[Skinny 1950]

If I bought an antique revolver made in say 1857 and the barrel and cylinder were non shootable would it alter the status (antique/restricted) of the gun to replace the cylinder and barrel with ones of modern manufacture made to similar specs as the original?
I have an RPAL so I am not trying to pull a fast one.
For show restore original barrel and cylinder for go switch to modern parts.
Would using the original frame in this way have a serious effect on the value of the gun?

 

[hedgehog]

it would not alter the antique status to change the barrel/cylinder on the gun as long as you stuck with a caliber thats not on the "restricted" list.

value would go down im guessing in almost every case.

 

[Win 38-55]

As long as the frame is original, you can do all the repairs you want using whatever parts, as long as the caliber stay out of the 'restricted' list. The value will plummet, depending upon what repairs are made. If it is one or two internal repairs, there will be very little effect on value. If it is some screws that are replaced and aged, there may be a slightly greater effect. But if large parts are replaced (grips, cylinder, barrel), then there can be a large decrease in collectors value. The demand for the piece, however, may still keep the value in the 'expensive' range. For example, an antique Colt SAA that has had a new cylinder installed, but still retains its antique status, can still have a pretty high demand due to their scarcity, so collectors may not be interested, but the number of shooters who want such a nice piece will still keep the price fairly high, since there are not a whole lot of legal antique Colt SAA's in nice restored condition around for shooting.

 

[tiriaq]

1857? Not many cartridge revolvers dating from then.
As mentionned antique status should not be affected, value as an antique might be.
It would depend on the gun and whether the exchange of barrel and cylinder are permanent.
Installing a barrel and cylinder in an antique Colt percussion wouldn't do any harm at all, if the rest of the gun were unaltered.