How much...these days?
The recent thread with regards to a Model 320 Revolving Rifle that was refinished in amateur fashion makes me ask this.
I am asking about a factory refinished Smith & Wesson, the one with an asterisk and a date code.
Some will entertain owning a nonprofessionally refinished firearm, "just to have" a certain representative model, if they don't already have one. To me, this is troublesome. On the other hand, a "purist" would likely not be interested in even a factory refinished gun. But, how does one collect Schofields, for example. My understanding is that all. U.S.-marked specimens had been refurbished before the advent of the 20th Century.
I had heard that the general rule of thumb is that a factory refinished gun is worth 85% of that in like condition but not factory refinished. I would guess that this applies to firearms in >40 or 50% condition. Below that, I wouldn't think it would matter.
Does this "conventional wisdom" still hold water, or is it now being disregarded? For example, I know somewhat recently of two nearly identical Triple Locks coming up at auction, the first offered was not refinished, the second one in the auction contained the asterisk. The second brought more than the first! My guess is that a bidder on the first lot was outbid, and bid on the second lot hoping to get it for less, and being unsuccessful at that, bid high enough to get it, or make it painful enough for the competing bidder to snag that particular Triple Lock.
The aforementioned is meant to be in reference to models such as the No 2 Army, American Model, NM No 3, etc., etc.
And, as discussed previously, there are those such as Charles Duffy, who were so skilled at what they did, that it's nearly impossible to differentiate between their expert refinish and factory original.
Then, of course, the asterisk does not always signify a refinish, but just a return to the factory for an undocumented number of reasons, one of which, of course, would be to refinish.
The recent thread with regards to a Model 320 Revolving Rifle that was refinished in amateur fashion makes me ask this.
I am asking about a factory refinished Smith & Wesson, the one with an asterisk and a date code.
Some will entertain owning a nonprofessionally refinished firearm, "just to have" a certain representative model, if they don't already have one. To me, this is troublesome. On the other hand, a "purist" would likely not be interested in even a factory refinished gun. But, how does one collect Schofields, for example. My understanding is that all. U.S.-marked specimens had been refurbished before the advent of the 20th Century.
I had heard that the general rule of thumb is that a factory refinished gun is worth 85% of that in like condition but not factory refinished. I would guess that this applies to firearms in >40 or 50% condition. Below that, I wouldn't think it would matter.
Does this "conventional wisdom" still hold water, or is it now being disregarded? For example, I know somewhat recently of two nearly identical Triple Locks coming up at auction, the first offered was not refinished, the second one in the auction contained the asterisk. The second brought more than the first! My guess is that a bidder on the first lot was outbid, and bid on the second lot hoping to get it for less, and being unsuccessful at that, bid high enough to get it, or make it painful enough for the competing bidder to snag that particular Triple Lock.
The aforementioned is meant to be in reference to models such as the No 2 Army, American Model, NM No 3, etc., etc.
And, as discussed previously, there are those such as Charles Duffy, who were so skilled at what they did, that it's nearly impossible to differentiate between their expert refinish and factory original.
Then, of course, the asterisk does not always signify a refinish, but just a return to the factory for an undocumented number of reasons, one of which, of course, would be to refinish.
