Factory Refinish question

[rmbrad]

I have a 5" 38-44 Heavy Duty. This was my Dad's Duty firearm for 27 years. There is a lot of holster wear, and a couple of nicks. I am wondering what a Factory refinish would cost? and will this increase or decrease the value of this Firearm? It is naturally not for sale, but I am thinking about doing a Shadow box along with his badges, and make something of a display out of it.

 

[Big Fred]

Smith would probably not reblue it due to its age.

AND, remember all the blue wear and nicks are part of your Fathers, and the revolvers history. Why take that away.

 

[rburg]

I'm mostly a collector, so take what I say with that in mind. The general rule that collectors live by is that any refinishing destroys value. Even if you can find a competent (rare) refinishing company, the $300 or more you pay doesn't add anything to the guns value. Even the shooter in me would greatly prefer a gun that still shows its original uses. Of course even worse is a gun that has been refinished and now shows signs of use on the new finish.

In all this its important to realize most places that refinish guns don't have a clue how to do it. Sounds strange, but refinishing to current standards or style even brings any value down more. If done by a top notch company, the $300 is just a fiction. It will probably cost $1000 and take months if not years. But you still won't get even a small increase in value. The $500 gun you started with won't be worth more, you'll just spend the money to make you feel good. And it won't work.

 

[Göring's S&W]

Displaying the gun with badges, with the wear from its service, would look best, IMO. A mint condition gun, which was your dad's, which was carried for 27 yrs, does not fit, from a logical perspective.

Also, NO, it would not enhance the value.

 

[PMRet]

I agree with what's already been said. Money and time aside, and regardless of whether you're going to shoot it or display it, the gun should retain the honest wear and character it earned during all those years on the job with your father. Just my opinion...

 

[shouldazagged]

Another vote for retiring the old warhorse to a place of honor, scars and all.

 

[rmbrad]

I hope I did this right. Here are some pictures of the .38-44. I am now starting to wonder if this is a Heavy Duty, or an Outdoorsman. I know at some point there was some work done on the gun by King's Gun Works. The hammer was modified, and is bent to the left. I think the front sight has been changed. I hope the pictures come through. I know this is a sweet shooting old gun. The first time I shot it I was 18 years old, and shot my first qualifying score with it. That was some 43 years ago. Can anyone tell me how to tell what model this is?

 

[Jim Watson]

Looks like a Heavy Duty with a postwar adjustable rear and aftermarket front ramp added. I can't tell if that is a King's Cockeyed Hammer or some other shop's effort.

I don't think I would want a trigger shoe on a clamshell holster which is opened by sticking a finger through the trigger guard. But it obviously worked for Dad.

Don't refinish. The gun is a long way from stock but it is the way Dad liked it and used it.

 

[TACC1]

Can't tell you what model it is, but oiling it, or
waxing with RenWax, will certainly make it look excellent in the
shadow box/ wall-mount. Looks just great in its present
condition. Whatever, it's a nice tribute to your Dad, to
put it up as family heirloom.
TACC1

 

[gaucho1]

Did your Dad have really large hands?

For what it's worth, definitely not a refinish candidate.

It would no longer be your Fathers gun.

Looks just right to my eye.

 

[moosedog]

Looks like a HD worked over to be a target revolver. The work is very good, possibly King which would increase the collectability of that gun.
If you refinished it, it would kill the value by half and take away it's history/character. Your father obviously has great taste in firearms.

 

[rmbrad]

Did your Dad have really large hands?

For what it's worth, definitely not a refinish candidate.

It would no longer be your Fathers gun.

Looks just right to my eye.

Dad was 6' 3" and went 250 pounds. He had large hands. Now I need to go through his shop and see if I can find the Rosewood grips he carved and finished for these guns.