Restoring old guns that are in rough condition

[BCRider]

I recently came across a couple of old early part of the 19th century .22 "boy's" rifles. A Stevens Crackshot and a Remington 6. Both are in rough shape with pitting of the outer barrels and in the case of the 6 the black (original?) paint is all but worn off other than under the foregrip. Wood in both cases is decent with the usual typical scratches and nicks that you'll find on a near hundred year old boy's gun that likely saw a lot of time left in a barn after being put away not properly cared for.

Now I COULD just clean up the obvious rust stains and leave the mottled black stains of the corrosion intact. But part of me would like to tart them up by doing some restoration. The question is at what point would a restoration be better than just leaving them with the patina of old age?

I know I should get pictures up to help you decide. I'm having dinner at the moment but should be able to post something up a little later tonight.

 

[ben hunchak]

In their condition, neither has much collector value, and probably never will, even though they are great old guns. I'd redo them anyway you want and hopefully shoot and enjoy them as shooters or just hang them on the wall. The model 6 rolling block may be worth $400 or more in "good" orig. condition, the Stevens is worth less as there are alot of them out there, they both make great "boy's rifles".

 

[tactical870]

Gotta agree with ben. Do what you desire, in their present condition they are worth very little and I doubt you'll reduce collector value by cleaning them up. I just started one a 1862 Snider Enfield what was damaged almost beyond repair. Now it's getting a refinish and a red dot scope. Just make sure you enjoy them.

 

[starpuss]

i agree , rip them apart and redo them

 

[BCRider]

Thanks all.

I didn't want to post it here as it seemed more a "Gunsmithing" issue but the Remington had the barrel drilled and tapped in a few spots for a scope mount at some point. Than later on the mount was ripped away in some accident resulting in the screws being stripped out of the rather shallow threaded holes. So any repair to this will involve using something to fill the holes. I KNEW that one was pretty much ruined in a collector's eyes as soon as I saw that.

The goal is to make shooters out of them if at all possible. The idea being to relive some of the past.

Only one item in particular will be retained or maintained and that's the lightly carved in initials of the Crackshot's original or last owner who, from the looks of it, carved the letters in at a very early age and still owned it upon his passing away where it was transferred to the fellow I got it from as part of the estate. No way I'm obliterating THAT bit of history even if I opt to refinish the stock.