Time for a reblue?

[Babysitr]

I know what I would do, yell, "hey dad watch this", then empty the cylinder and smile

 

[CH4]

Leave it as is. Honest wear tells it’s story. Rebluing it is tantamount to tearing down a statue. I would never think of refinishing my dad’s duty gun. Every rub, scratch and ding has a story, it adds to its history and character. Rebluing it will destroy its identity and its connection to your dad and his service. If you want a pretty blue gun, there’s plenty out there.

 

[2ndshift]

I know what I would do, yell, "hey dad watch this", then empty the cylinder and smile

Atta boy! Exactly.

 

[jdlii]

I've heard good things about Wyoming Armory.

 

[walter o]

i am confused about refinishing. If you were to have a factory new firearm engraved outside of the factory it would have to be reblued .Would it diminish the value of the gun ?

 

[sipowicz]

Ok. The leaves have it. My dad looking down is probably happy. He’d hate to see me spend all that money on a gun. He carried one for over 60 years but really wasn’t into them. He also carried a Marlin 336 every deer season. but never shot one. We all knew he just liked to go on buddy weekends upstate and enjoyed the card games way more than freezing under a tree.

But he did practice with his DS at Rodman’s Neck now and the since we lived on City Island which is only a mile from the range

 

[stansdds]

i am confused about refinishing. If you were to have a factory new firearm engraved outside of the factory it would have to be reblued .Would it diminish the value of the gun ?

Depends upon the firearm. Something vintage and especially something rarely seen, engraving and refinishing is likely to diminish value to a collector. Something commonly seen and mass produced in millions, if done tastefully, might increase the value.

 

[stansdds]

Ok. The leaves have it.

Wise decision.

 

[BigBill]

Leave it as is great decision.

I wish my dad left me a gun. He had a 38 revolver but I don’t know who got it. I had his bookie ask me for his unpaid bets. Classy guy.

 

[glowe]

Hard to see but lots of wear on cylinder and top strap

You can't be serious about refinishing the gun when you have Colt rubber grips on it that cover up half the revolver!!!!!!!!!!

Did the wear bother your father ? My guess would be no, so why should one alter the memories of what he owned. My father was not the type that needed everything looking new, but he spent hours making sure all his guns were taken care of, maintained and super clean. I have a couple and can take them out shooting and wonder how that dent in the stock happened, or when did that scratch on the receiver happen? He would certainly not even have recognized a newly refinished gun as his own.

 

[chief38]

I might leave it... looks like with disassembly and reassembly most places are upwards of $450. I don’t think my dad would approve since he paid $62.00 for it...��

It drives me nuts when people refuse to improve an item because 50 years ago it was so much cheaper - makes no sense! Like saying you won't put a new kitchen in your home that will cost $75K because you paid $20K foe the house 50 years ago (even though it may now be worth $800K) - rethink your conundrum is what I'd say.

I also put $500 Scopes on rifles I paid less than than half of that for - but guess what, I bought the rifle 35 years ago and paid under $250 (now its discontinued but a spectacular rifle and super accurate) so why wouldn't I want to make it shoot as best as I can? It's what you wind up with that counts and as long as one can afford it - I see no reason to cheap out. It's your Dad's gun and you will never sell it - so who cares what re-bluing it might do to collectors value! Enjoy it while you can and who ever you pass it on to will thank you for restoring it to its glory!

 

[sipowicz]

You can't be serious about refinishing the gun when you have Colt rubber grips on it that cover up half the revolver!!!!!!!!!!.

Lighten up Francis.

Btw, I have his original grips in pristine condition. He put the pachmayr rubber on as soon as he got it. But after 50 years the rubber degraded so I upgraded to Colt medallion pachs.

 

[sipowicz]

It drives me nuts when people refuse to improve an item because 50 years ago it was so much cheaper - makes no sense! Like saying you won't put a new kitchen in your home that will cost $75K because you paid $20K foe the house 50 years ago (even though it may now be worth $800K) - rethink your conundrum is what I'd say.

I also put $500 Scopes on rifles I paid less than than half of that for - but guess what, I bought the rifle 35 years ago and paid under $250 (now its discontinued but a spectacular rifle and super accurate) so why wouldn't I want to make it shoot as best as I can? It's what you wind up with that counts and as long as one can afford it - I see no reason to cheap out. It's your Dad's gun and you will never sell it - so who cares what re-bluing it might do to collectors value! Enjoy it while you can and who ever you pass it on to will thank you for restoring it to its glory!

Ok ok. But even I don’t want to spend $450 on a carry gun. I know if I do I’ll be wiping it down everyday and worrying about every little scratch ....best I leave as is since it lives inside my IWB.

 

[Trooper224]

Leaving as-is is the wise choice. Collectability will be destroyed with a refinish. You may not care about that now, but if you're ever forced to sell it you will. (you never know the turns life may take)

Besides, if it's a carry gun, it'll show wear very soon after you've spent all that money. That's a frustrating experience I know about.

 

[murphydog]

For guns with honest carry wear (no abuse, pitting, rust and the like), to me a refinish is like a person getting plastic surgery.

It's expensive to get done right, and even though you're trying to erase all evidence of previous (mis) adventures, everyone who knew you before knows what you've done. And if you venture out again into the cold, cruel world you'll probably get enough wear and have to do it over again.