To restore or not to restore?

kjohn said:
I'm not going to say yes or no here, as it is your gun. I will say that "collector value" is not "rubash". I have been buying guns for 50 years now, and have managed to gather some rather neat stuff. I am not a nit picky collector who criticizes other peoples' collection tastes.

I have some rifles that I won't sell, period, and whether anybody else sees the value is not important to me. I do appreciate seeing what others collect, whatever it may be.

Years and years ago, I hacked the stock and had a scope mounted on a nice Czech Mauser, and have regretted doing so. Luckily, I bought two, so I still have one nice one.

I think some of us get a little skittish at the word "refinish", as we have seen some pretty crude work - sidegrinders on the stock, ugly varnish on a nice stock, etc.

Treasure your old rifle, and don't spend too much time worrying about what others may think. :)
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Agree to a point. You have 5 years on me since I have only been gathering for 45 years and up until I sold off 2/3 of my collection due to illness 8 years ago I didnot care either what others may think.
However once you put them up for sale and see what they bring I wish I had of listened to others with respect to when it is OK to finish or not finish. Now I leave original if original, if already altered most I have found have a higher resale refinished but as you know it all depends on the make and model in question. take care
Just one man's experience
 
There is also the middle of the road approach!
If the wood has already been refinished you could 'refurbish' the metal yourself. Carefully remove any rust with penetrating oil and fine steel wood, degrease all metal surfaces and cold blue it woth one of the many very good products available. You can end up with a decent looking gun and not a lot of money invested.
 
What Willy said, but I would remove the varnish or whatever is on it, and re-do it with tung oil. There are at least a couple cold blue products that will do a reasonable job of cleaning up the metal (oxpho blue and blue wonder come to mind), as long you degrease thoroughly and follow the product directions carefully. Your biggest investment by far will be your time, and the gun will be very presentable.
 
I appreciate everyone's input! I'll more than likely refinish the wood since it's already been touched. Once it's back together, I'll make the decision if I'll reblue it.
 
Most of these original gunstocks were done with a linseed based oil finish. If it were mine I would get rid of the varnish and rub it down with boiled linseed oil cut with turps and some burnt umber oil based artist tint. Basically at this point you are not "refinishing" but more like "restoring" the original finish. Tougher than a varnish any day and done right gives a pleasant depth you cannot get from a varnish. Thats the joy of an oil finish. Clean the dirt off the surface and add a coat. Rub it down to give it some lustre and leave it alone for another 10yrs. Also looks pretty nice too and seems to fit an old rifle to a t.
 
Vintage Winchesters were varnished not oiled. Many of the really old ones have been refinished with linseed oil. If the original finish is gone an oil finish is fine, just please don't sand it.
 
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