So have I increased the value of my 686+ Pro Series, or decreased it?

[Bullet Bob]

This is the sort of thing that will always garner differing opinion.

For me, any change from stock decreases the value of the gun, unless as has been pointed out, the work was done by a known gunsmith. Maybe unfair, but that's the way it is.

There are a lot people doing more to their handguns today than people in the past wouldn't have dreamed of.

Personally, I won't buy a revolver or pistol that someone has done any internal work on. I'm sure I lose out on some well done handguns, but it's not a risk I'm willing to take. Other people will feel differently.

 

[BAM-BAM]

This is the sort of thing that will always garner differing opinion.

For me, any change from stock decreases the value of the gun, unless as has been pointed out, the work was done by a known gunsmith. Maybe unfair, but that's the way it is.

There are a lot people doing more to their handguns today than people in the past wouldn't have dreamed of.

Personally, I won't buy a revolver or pistol that someone has done any internal work on. I'm sure I lose out on some well done handguns, but it's not a risk I'm willing to take. Other people will feel differently.

Lots of threads on those pre war chopped and channeled "belly guns"

 

[rwsmith]

It only matters......

It only matters if you plan to sell it. I'm not a collector so if I were to buy it, the mods that you made would increase the value for me if I wanted a 'tuned up' gun.

 

[Big Cholla]

'itp'; My complements. Your work and your research into existing prior knowledge seems to me to be exceptional. Keep it up. You will come to getting real 'strokes' for every future job done that well. Since you do such a nice job on polishing, IMHO, you ought to try something I have only seen once before and was very impressed at the impact it had; polish just the interior of the flutes on the cylinder to a high gloss. They are somewhat protected because of the internal concave cut and will stay nice looking for a long time without much effort. The visual impact is again IMHO, very impressive. ............

 

[jtcarm]

Ya done good[emoji6]

Especially the action job for never having done it before. I ruined a hammer once before I learned what I was doing, that was pre-WWW (that's World Wide Web, not WWI !!!)

The cosmetic changes may add curb appeal. If not MIM hammers & triggers don't cost much and should just drop in.

This is a good video my Jerry Miculek on tuning an S&W action. He doesn't do any polishing, just stoning to square up surfaces and break some sharp edges.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/26...-for-s-and-w-revolvers-with-jerry-miculek-dvd

The gun in the video has forged parts, but MIM is pretty much the same.

Good ol silicone carbide sandpaper from the auto parts store is great stuff for honing/lapping/sharpening. And inexpensive.

 

[bigfatty]

I find the fact that you have to ask whether you should disclose the bubba'ing of the revolver to a potential buyer only if specifically asked about it to be disturbing.

 

[Rick_A]

Refinishing and kitchen table gunsmithing are both things that I tend to completely avoid.