Refinishing antiques read before commenting

H Wally

H Wally

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Since everyone's already familiar with my colt pocket revolvers, figured I'd involve the cgn community in their existance some more.

The two 1849 colts I'm thinking of are in need one work. The mechanically good one was completely polished before I got it and has replacement nipples... no markings left, except for light serial numbers. It's all matching. The other one needs internal work, its screws are in rough shape or are bodged replacements, has a hand made grip, buggered or missing nipples, but maintains a decent patina, even if it's dinged, has a file mark and has some light pitting. All matching as well.

Would I be horribly offending the gun gods by shipping them out to an experienced case hardening gunsmith to have the frames case colour hardened? I'm generally against refinishing guns, but these ones are no longer original, and a professional refurbishment is within my budget. In my mind, this is a chance to restore these guys to their original grandure. What do you guys think?
 
If he can do a nice job I don't see why not?, up here I'm sure you could fetch just as much if not more for them afterwards.

We'll let some experienced colt owners have their say first though, I don't own colts.
 
I think if you add on the cost of refinishing, you can almost buy one in considerably better condition. I would fix up the mechanical problems and leave it at that.

cheers mooncoon
 
Ditto. I think number two could probably be restpectfully restored without refinishing, in a manner that would significantly improve its value.
Number one would be a candidate for proper refinishing, seeing as it has already been polished.
 
mooncoon said:
I think if you add on the cost of refinishing, you can almost buy one in considerably better condition. I would fix up the mechanical problems and leave it at that.

cheers mooncoon
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Cost of Refinishing in the shape that they are should cost $650-1200 Each. i think it would be Real hard to find one in much better shape for under 1500 bucks.

if you need replacement cylinders i got some. $85.00 each
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSFJbh-G95w
 
Make em shooters as God and Colonel Colt intended. I am all for keeping stuff stock but if the guns are altered from original condition than I am all for restoring to shooting condition.

Post pics and details afterwards so we can see how they turned out.
 
CMichaud said:
Make em shooters as God and Colonel Colt intended. I am all for keeping stuff stock but if the guns are altered from original condition than I am all for restoring to shooting condition.

Post pics and details afterwards so we can see how they turned out.
Click to expand...

This is a reasonable perspective, since they have lost their collectible value they now are in the realm of shooter class. Refinishing them will make them look good for shooting, but not for collecting.
However, IF they were in far better condition then shooting them, in my opinion, woudl be out of the question. Yes God and Colonel intended them to be fired, but they would have to agree that there is a time to retire them as they have served their purpose well and are deserving a rest!!!
 
Hey wally im gona get one of my keeper 1875 remy army revolver frames Recase hardened.
even tho they were never case hardened orignaly , im doing it just for the look!
I think it will look really nice and give the frame a hard scratch free surface + look really nice at the same time. the Cylinder Barrel and trigger gard are Dark blued and the under barrel web. It will look Ex and i bet the gun will sell better than just a nickled or blued gun tho im not selling it.
Almost everyone likes case colours. That 455 pall mall SAA Colt i sold that was recase hardened by Kopec went for more money than any of the SAA colts ive seen listed on CGN so didnt hurt its Value eh.
So i say go for it if its what your wanting to do !
 
In my experience it a bad looking original gun will not be of as much value as a tastefully refinished one. Being stored in a barn with rain poring on it sure destroys any gun, so why keep it original? Refinish it, but please don't come up with ideas like starpuss here a while ago and parkerize it. :eek:

Looking at Dingus guns gives you a good idea how to do it right, he keeps some original and improves others even over what they originally were meant to be.
 
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