refinishing antiques
- Thread starter bigdawg
- Start date
You can do anything to the finish you want.
BUT refinishing antiques lowers value in most cases.
If you change the caliber to a caliber on the NO list it would then need to be registered.
Like changeing it from 32 rf to 22 rf
Grips you can do as you like.
Heres and example.
this is still a perscribed antique its and Orignal Rogers and spencer percussion revolver.
But its been Customized by King and has a Barrel Rib installed ajustable sites and custom target grips as well.
Its not been refinished tho he found a gun to customize that looks like its right outa the factory in the 1870s.
Click on pic to enlarge
BUT refinishing antiques lowers value in most cases.
If you change the caliber to a caliber on the NO list it would then need to be registered.
Like changeing it from 32 rf to 22 rf
Grips you can do as you like.
Heres and example.
this is still a perscribed antique its and Orignal Rogers and spencer percussion revolver.
But its been Customized by King and has a Barrel Rib installed ajustable sites and custom target grips as well.
Its not been refinished tho he found a gun to customize that looks like its right outa the factory in the 1870s.
Click on pic to enlarge
You can make parts if ya need to, i have.
Best to hunt for old orignal parts tho.
numrich has a good selection of parts tho Antiques are hit and miss.
Parts that fit onto a Antique receiver become part of the Antique revolver
UNLESS they alter it to a Caliber on the No list.
Thats my take on it.
Check out some of the stuff Mooncoon has done starting with a chunk of rusty old receiver its amazeing what he turns out.
Check out his older posts, or maby he can repost some of his art work here.
Best to hunt for old orignal parts tho.
numrich has a good selection of parts tho Antiques are hit and miss.
Parts that fit onto a Antique receiver become part of the Antique revolver
UNLESS they alter it to a Caliber on the No list.
Thats my take on it.
Check out some of the stuff Mooncoon has done starting with a chunk of rusty old receiver its amazeing what he turns out.
Check out his older posts, or maby he can repost some of his art work here.
No that is quite wrong. Go back to the beginning; it is the frame or receiver which defines the firearm. In the case of antiques this is further limited by the current caliber or guage. In other words if you rebarrel a Sharps rifle for example, to a caliber over .34 then it remains an antique regardless of what age the barrel is. If you replace broken or missing internal parts, it does not matter if they are original or from an Italian replica or handmade by you; you have not changed the frame or receiver. Even with a handgun; if it is pre 1898 and you bushed the cylinder of a .32 and rechambered to .22 Morris shell then sleeved the barrel to .22, it no longer is a named exempt caliber (found in SOR 98-464) and as previously said it meets the age definition so it is now an antique instead of a prohib.
I think you also asked about refinishing; that is a bit of a tough call; for US rifles especially, if some of the original finish remains, then you would be prudent to leave it the way it is apart from oiling and possibly fine steel wool with oil to remove rust but not blueing or casing colours. On the other hand there are a great many european muzzle loaders floating around with all of the finish rusted away. Particularly in the case of shotguns with no finish, I see nothing wrong with refinishing the damascus barrels, but that is just my opinion. Civil war revolvers also you would be very unwise to refinish. Very much a case by case decision and further depends on your values. The one thing I do take exception to are the turkeys who chrome or nickel plate original muzzle loaders; I have a blunderbuss sort of pistol right now that has been chromed and may the fleas of 1000 camels infest the armpits of the perpetrator and his offspring even unto the fourth generation :>(
cheers mooncoon
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I don't think that rebuilding and repairing is particularly difficult (except for guns found in Port :>) :>) ). I think it is a case of taking on increasingly greater challenges as well as extensive reading and thinking on how guns and parts were made in the good old days. I make a lot of screws on the metal lathe but most of the work I do is with files and of course a drill press for holes. I don't feel that I have come near to matching the abilities of a Belgian apprentice although I can usually make the parts that I need. There are also many others in the province who considerably surpass me in the quality of their work.
cheers mooncoon
- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
(except for guns found in Port :>) :>) ) LOL
Hi nothing wrong with re-finishing antiques ie. pistols as long as you don't re-chamber so they will now take non-antique cartridges specified on the list ifyou take a 450 webley and re-chamber to 45 colt it is no longer an antique although some of the 455/476 armys will take a45 colt that is ok because thay were not altered to take the colt I am a verifier fore are gun club and have de-registered many antiques for my-self and club members . the rifles are easier you can take an original rolling block action and re-barrel re-stock make like new and as long as you chamber it in a cartridge with a bore diameter greater than 8.3mm it is considered antique . they de-registered a martini pistol for a friend of mine kyber pass special in 303 british because it was made before 1898 and 303 is not on the perscribed caliber list for hand guns . you can also take a rolling block that is in 8mm re-barrel to 45-70 if the action is antique now can be de-registered although I would cringe to re-finish a expensive collector grade piece value would go down but if it's yours you can do what you like.
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You can certainly rechamber them to obsolete calibers and to wildcats. In small caliber, .22 velodog shells are not hard to make as well as the .22 morris shell (both are .22 centerfires). The gun in the photo still needs some work done on the firing pin hole and firing pin but the shell is a 30-30 shell shortened to 1.1" if my memory is correct and necked down to .30 cal so that it could be rebarreled with a piece of .308 barrel.
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
Ah! Mooncoon I love your thinking on that!
We are pertty much 100% in agreement on altering antiquess!
This little Antique is being upgraded
Lets just say she aint what she used to be!!!!
Maximus 44 Russian Firepower!
As long as its not one of the NO calibers!
And this puppy still shoots and chambers 44 Russian.
orignal Frame is intact!
My ivory grips are orignal.
She can now shot 44 special at my own risk!
We are pertty much 100% in agreement on altering antiquess!
This little Antique is being upgraded
Lets just say she aint what she used to be!!!!
Maximus 44 Russian Firepower!
As long as its not one of the NO calibers!
And this puppy still shoots and chambers 44 Russian.
orignal Frame is intact!
My ivory grips are orignal.
She can now shot 44 special at my own risk!
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