Win. 1906, Reblue or not?
- Thread starter gerard488
- Start date
I'm no authority on these matters, but from what I've heard/read countless times....leave these old birds as you found them. Most collectors seem to want guns in as un-molested a state as possible.
Maybe worth mentioning~modern hot bluing (in my modest experience getting shotgun barrels re-blued) is way more BLACK in color than the sort of "blue" on older guns. Even if you wanted to restore and keep it as a shooter, even an untrained eye like mine would know it's not original.
Maybe worth mentioning~modern hot bluing (in my modest experience getting shotgun barrels re-blued) is way more BLACK in color than the sort of "blue" on older guns. Even if you wanted to restore and keep it as a shooter, even an untrained eye like mine would know it's not original.
Personally, I think I would leave that as is. Give it a good but gentle cleaning -- this Midway USA / Larry Potterfield video might help:
https://videos.midwayusa.com/index...._from_a_remington_rolling_block?id=1_h8e39m9f
https://videos.midwayusa.com/index...._from_a_remington_rolling_block?id=1_h8e39m9f
saltednutz
Regular
- Location
- God's Country ᐋᕘᑕ
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But there is a gazillion of them out there too. I just had a Martini Cadet reblued and that would not cut price if I sold it. If you want to sell it as a collectable it would probably have to be in much better shape than your is anyways I would expect. I use touchup blue as it is only light anyways. Still looks old. Now if it was an original in great shape with most of its blue intact I would leave it. I have no plans of selling my Martini so I will refinish and reblue to please me not some future purchaser that may be down the road. Its all your choice.
They made the 1906 for quite a few years. So a 1911 date on the barrel doesn't mean that it's a new barrel. Doesn't mean it's not but chances are better than even it's the original.
Honest wear shouldn't bother you. But general abuse really does means it's a candidate for anything you want to do to restore it in my books. But that's me.
The Winchester pumps do pull in more coin than other brand rimfire pumps. So chances are good you WOULD hurt the value. So in that case simply clean it and leave it alone.
The one bit of fixing I might do is on the wood shoulder stock. The pictures make it look like the action end of the wood is badly stained with gun oil and cleaning solvents. That can lead to the wood going punky and failing. It's worth considering stripping the finish and then using one of the method for removing the oil from the wood then re-finish it with a nice PROPER oiled finish. One that actually cures over time and protects the wood. At least that's my feeling on the issue. It's not a popular one among collectors though.
The other thing that I'm not sure of is the surface condition. It looks a little spotty almost like it's seen it's share of rust blooms and gotten cleaned a bit late. If that's the case then it's going to be hard to do any sort of re-bluing that won't look like crap.
And there's also your own intentions to consider. if this is a gun you treasure and it will never leave your hands then do what is needed to allow you to enjoy it as much as you can. If that means restoring it to like new condition then why not? It's YOUR gun. But if it is simply passing through then I'd suggest you leave it alone.
Value? I've seen a lot of rough looking examples around the swap meets listed for $400 to $450 and a few pristine ones all the way up to $800. Yours looks at present like it would be in that $400 to $450 range.
Honest wear shouldn't bother you. But general abuse really does means it's a candidate for anything you want to do to restore it in my books. But that's me.
The Winchester pumps do pull in more coin than other brand rimfire pumps. So chances are good you WOULD hurt the value. So in that case simply clean it and leave it alone.
The one bit of fixing I might do is on the wood shoulder stock. The pictures make it look like the action end of the wood is badly stained with gun oil and cleaning solvents. That can lead to the wood going punky and failing. It's worth considering stripping the finish and then using one of the method for removing the oil from the wood then re-finish it with a nice PROPER oiled finish. One that actually cures over time and protects the wood. At least that's my feeling on the issue. It's not a popular one among collectors though.
The other thing that I'm not sure of is the surface condition. It looks a little spotty almost like it's seen it's share of rust blooms and gotten cleaned a bit late. If that's the case then it's going to be hard to do any sort of re-bluing that won't look like crap.
And there's also your own intentions to consider. if this is a gun you treasure and it will never leave your hands then do what is needed to allow you to enjoy it as much as you can. If that means restoring it to like new condition then why not? It's YOUR gun. But if it is simply passing through then I'd suggest you leave it alone.
Value? I've seen a lot of rough looking examples around the swap meets listed for $400 to $450 and a few pristine ones all the way up to $800. Yours looks at present like it would be in that $400 to $450 range.
Serial number on the front of the receiver is 683xx. That appears to mean it was made in 1907 with a smooth fore stock and a barrel for 22 short only, not to mention the 1911 patent on the barrel.
The serial on the lower tang is poorly double stamped and looks like it may have been re stamped at some time, looks like there ma be a 0 in front, making it 0683xx.
The serial on the lower tang is poorly double stamped and looks like it may have been re stamped at some time, looks like there ma be a 0 in front, making it 0683xx.
