Quote:
Originally Posted by Kinman
At about this time in the conversation I always think about the factory restored pieces and the effect that has on collector status. I feel very fortunate to have a factory restored 1st Model Double Action .44 Russian, as far as I'm concerned it is the most beautiful piece I own and would be nearly impossible to be as beautiful unless it was in near unfired condition. Therein lies the rub, someone would rather it be in nearly 75% condition than to be restored by the factory. I am not as giddy over a non factory restored piece although I have seen some very fine work. I appreciate the factories stampings of the date the work was done and other cymbals indicating specified work entailed. Of course the letter spells everything out, although not entirely, there is always something open to speculation. By guess by golly.
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Have you checked with the Smith & Wesson Historical Foundation on this gun yet?
I believe that their amazing work is going to change the S&W collecting landscape as more people become aware of the potential for finding the documents regarding the factory re-working.
I personally became extremely keen on modified, or factory re-worked/finished guns, mostly due to my limited budget. Such guns have been panned by the more well heeled collectors for quite a long time. So I could get them on the cheap.
Thing is that with the potential for documentation existing from the point in time when the gun visited the service department, some extremely cool information can be attached to these guns, elevating them (in my mind) to a 'Poor Man's Registered Magnum'. The RMs having a part of their mystique of course being in how fine they are, but the other part in the likelihood of the gun being attachable to a particular individual, who's history is revealed by the gun continuing to live on well past the lifespan of it's owner.
It is my personal belief that the market for guns that have visited the service department, and have SWHF documents revealing ownership at the time, will attain a similar status to custom order guns with the same documentation.
I for one am very much looking forward to seeing more fantastic documents like the ones the SWHF has furnished me on a number of my guns now. The hand written letters are just a joy to read through. They add so much to owning the guns, and enjoying them.