When is it ok to refinish??

[Honda-doug]

I would like to hear your opinions on refinishing, specifically, when does it NOT hurt resale/gun value.
Also, can it even be done without being obvious?? Thanks guys. Doug

 

[Honda-doug]

I would like to hear your opinions on refinishing, specifically, when does it NOT hurt resale/gun value.
Also, can it even be done without being obvious?? Thanks guys. Doug

 

[diamonback68]

Originally posted by Honda-doug:
I would like to hear your opinions on refinishing, specifically, when does it NOT hurt resale/gun value.
Also, can it even be done without being obvious?? Thanks guys. Doug

It will always hurt the resale/value of the gun and add considerably to what you have in it.
The only way it can be re-finished without being obvious is for a complete restoration job which is very expensive.
These are my opinions and I am entitled to them.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

 

[Match10]

I disagree... It does not always hurt the value of a firearm. It may, from a collector's standpoint. Any shooter that you use is worth preserving and maintaining in a condition that pleases you.

I have no safe queens, as every "collector" piece of mine is shot. (In fact, I'd love to go buy that unspun Python at the local gunshop, and immediately take it into the range and load her up!)

 

[BUFF]

Generally, refinishing is frowned upon because it entails removing the original finish and altering the gun. "Collectors" like their guns as close as possible to the condition in which they leave the factory. Any alteration or wear is generally considered undesirable.

To most of us, we don't see the big deal about refinishing most guns. Most guns are fairly common examples. The collecting world isn't diminished much if one of 7 million Military & Police revolvers gets refinished. They aren't rare. They aren't expensive unless they are old, in a rare configuration and with little to no finish flaws and are in their original box with the original papers that came with it. A decent blue job on a worn M&P can do it no harm, in my mind.

I figure that,if it isn't rare, what difference does it make if I replace a worn or flawed finish? So what if my Model 19-2, one of a gazillion others just like it, isn't totally original? What has the world lost?

If I like it, that is enough reason to do something to a gun. If the gun is worth $100 less five years from now than if I had left it alone, so what? If I got more enjoyment out of it having refinished it and making it look better, or added different sights or grips so I could shoot it better, then it is worth it to me.

I am not talking about engraving my drivers license or social security numbers onto the frame of a nice 4 inch 1950 Target .44 Special here, though, or gold plating Teddy Rooseveldt's Number 3. THAT would be sacriledge!

 

[tjpopkin]

If you intend to keep it and shoot it, and if the condition bothers you the way it is....by all means refinish and enjoy.

It can ENHANCE VALUE in some rare instances....take one of the old Lugers in my collection...I had an Artillery Luger that had been run over by a tank, crushed trigger guard and trigger, some surface rust, lots of wear. I found an expert Luger restorer who had a mandrel to reshape the trigger guard and trigger,and who told me he could restore and reblue to look new....he DID!!! It is magnificient and I now take it to the range...it is remarkably accurate.
I took a smashed Luger that no one wanted and was valued at $400....added another $600 for the restoration and now have a gun valued by experts at $4500.....or more!!!!
If the gun is rare, usually you should leave it alone...unless you cannot stand to look at it. If you keep it, make yourself happy!!!
terry

 

[Raider]

Terry, please tell who restored your Luger. Sounds like he did a super job.

Originally posted by tjpopkin:
I had an Artillery Luger that had been run over by a tank, crushed trigger guard and trigger, some surface rust, lots of wear. I found an expert Luger restorer who had a mandrel to reshape the trigger guard and trigger,and who told me he could restore and reblue to look new....he DID!!! It is magnificient and I now take it to the range...it is remarkably accurate.

terry

 

[noshow]

Originally posted by Honda-doug:
I would like to hear your opinions on refinishing, specifically, when does it NOT hurt resale/gun value.
Also, can it even be done without being obvious?? Thanks guys. Doug

If you're in it for the money, DONT do it! If your in it to enjoy the pride of ownership and the joys of shooting it, DO IT and make yourself happy and never look back!

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Below is a 1899 32/20 target model most everyone agrees less than 100 was made. It has turned brown, no blue at all. Would you refinish it??? I was told go ahead it won't hurt it if I have it done the right way. I almost did, then I told myself it tell to many stories the way it is.

 

[Jack Flash]

Almost always, you are money ahead just selling the one that "needs" refinishing then taking the proceeds, together with what you would have spent refinishing it (don't forget the shipping both ways) and buying one in the condition you seek.

If you follow the above, you should always be able to sell it for as much as or more than you have in it.

But if you are set on refinishing a favorite old gun, and you don't care if you spend some money you'll never get back, that's your choice.

 

[j38]

I would echo those same sentiment expressed by Mr. Flash.

Jerry

 

[Checkman]

I had one of M28's parkarized and coated with teflon mainly because I like to take it out into the woods when I'm hunting.It's a very strong finish and I didn't want to have the revolver damaged by water, rust etc. It's a field revolver. I've never regretted doing that even though I had some folks criticize my choice.

I own an M&P 3rd change (mfd. 1913) that was refinished by it's previous owner. It's an excellent reblue and very impressive. I paid $250 for it and while it might not be a collectors item the refinish has extended the life and I have a very pretty revolver. Probably looks alot like it did when it was brand new. No regrets.

However I also own an Outdoorsman from 1953. It's seen some use and there are some dings in it, but I'm leaving it alone. It just seems wrong to get it refinished.

It's your property. Do what you want.

 

[riptrack44]

To have it done right is very expensive. In some cases I'm sure it's worth it. I've seen examples of rare guns advertised as "restored" with hefty asking prices. But, again if the job is done cheaply, it can be a real mess. The old saying always apply: "you get what you pay for"...

 

[H Richard]

There are two different kinds of guns. Collectible guns, and using guns. Collectible guns should not be refinished. Using guns should be refinished if it is economically feasible. I just sent off a Mod 19-4 2 1/2" RB to have a Metaloy finish put on. This is a gun I use, and when I got it it had finish "issues". The previous owner had a fire, and the gun case it had been in got "damp", and the finish suffered. It had only been factory fired, and had no turn ring. I bought it for $250. There are a couple small area's where light rust had been, and maybe 10% of the bluing had spots. Due to it's otherwise unfired mechanical condition, and it is very accurate, I wanted it to look decent. With the cost of the new finish plus the cost of acquisition I will have about the cost of a New 19-4 in it, and have a using gun with a nearly indestructible finish. I had this finish put on a 1911 competition gun 20 years ago, and it looks as good today as it did then and it has probably around 100,000 rounds through it. New barrel, new sear & hammer, new springs, but same finish.

 

[sceva]

If it pleases you to re-finish and you go into it understanding that it does not add to the value (instead it will be worth less than the combined pre-refinish value of the gun and the cost of re-finishing) go for it. I would not re-finish a collector piece, but then, what is a user today may be a collectors item tomorrow. That said, I had my 25-5 re-finished at S&W and have never regretted it once. I did it for me not because I wanted to make money on it. Even Elmer had his working revolvers re-blued (Some several times from what I have read)

 

[mikepriwer]

This is a topic that has been visited numerous. All of the comments
above are good comments. In the end, however, its all very personal.

For me, I would not refinish a shooter. It does nothing for its accuracy.
If anything, I might have it accurized. But that's me. Others feel
differently.

The real controversy is about collectible guns, and even here, there
are difference of opinion as to just how collectible a particlar gun may
be. Most post-WW2 guns are not yet collectible. Yet, a NIB 32 M&P from
about 1949 recently surfaced, and went for $4000, and will resell for more.
That is a collectible price.

The 1899 32.20 target that John posted is a scarce gun - no doubt about it.
That gun, in my view, looks very good,just the way it is. The coloring is
even, there are no noticeable dings, pits, scratches, gouges, etc. Quite
apart from collectibility issues, it doesn't need refinishing.

I would add that, in my view, given the scarctiy of that gun, I doubt that
a good refinish would hurt the value, primarily because of the condition
of the current finish. Clearly, if that gun were NIB, it would be worth
a lot more than it is now. It is worth a lot now - just because of its
scarcity. The thing about refinishing that gun is that its impossible to
recreate the original finish. It would always look like something out of
the 1930's or so, which is not what it is.

If a scarce gun is really worn, I don't mind having it refinished. The
value of a really worn gun is pretty-much beat down, to reflect its
condition. Refinishing it is a trade-off ; the value probably won't be
any more, but it will look a lot better.

On the other hand, if the gun is rare - meaning there is something special
about the gun, then refinishing is probably not a good idea.

Later, Mike Priwer

 

[44wheelman]

Sounds like it is okay to refinish when you don't care about it's value both before and after it's refinished.

In other words, when you do it for your own personal satisfaction, cause it's the only time you be happy with a refinished gun; and I used to own a couple.

 

[ricketts]

About 5, 6 years ago, I was walking a gun show and was following a young man, in his mid 20's with a little one on one hand. Kid was about 3-4. In his other hand was a very well worn Ruger Mk 1 Semi auto. He was walking this poor gun around, starting at like $125 and the comments he got from the guys behind the table were pathetic. One idiot in particular, I noticd--because he is a notorious low baller and loudmouth. In fact, I ALWAYS walk by his table and say nothing if he asks me about one I may be carrying.

Anyway, this guy with the Ruger is getting desperate. He is down to $75ish and all these guys look at the gun, and as soon as he tells them how much, they quickly hand it back.

I stopped him and he looks like he is on his last nerve. I ask, he says $75. I put the gun in my belt and handed him his money. I figued he needed it for diapers or something because he looked relieved to have some cash.

Most of you don't know me. I do high quality military restortions and Duracoat. But this one--I took it home and sandblasted it and manganese phosphate parkerized it. I also took a pair of walnut checkered grips I had laying around and put it on the gun. DAYUM, did it ever look great!!

Couple weeks later, I am walking the show with this now in tow. And the know it all's behind the tables were harping on me because I 'ruined the collectors value' of this gun. COLLECTORS VALUE?? You durn fools didn't want the gun when it was worn silver for a stinking $75 bucks!! Where was your money THEN??

The idiot I don't like much was especially harsh. But this time I did stop and talk to him. He is on and on about the 'collectors value'. I stopped him and asked him if he remembered the bare Ruger from a couple weeks ago--and he did. I told him to look at this one again as it was the same gun. I took it from him as he was contemplating making an offer.

At that time, another guy saw it and asked 'How much?' I told him like $200. He looks at it as the other idiot was sputtering something like he was not done yet. My customer laughed at him and gave me two humdred and put the gun in his back pack.

Collectors generally are so full of themselves that they refuse to acknowledge when a refinish is a good thing. That poor kid couldn't get $75 for that anchor---the collectors were no where to be seen. But when the gun had a new set of clothes--oh how they howled.

 

[Win]

If it is one of my good shooters I plan to keep, I don't mind getting a refinsh. I don't want to hand it down to my kids one day in a worn out/pitted state, if a little preventive refinish today can stop the decay.

That said, be sure you REALLY want to keep it. The cost of a good refinish will never be recovered.

 

[mzimmers]

As long as I'm slinging around my $0.02 this evening...

...I agree with those who say that refinishing detracts from a collector gun's value. But DAMMIT...it shouldn't be that way.

When someone looks at a 1955 Porsche Carrera Speedster, they don't ask whether it's been repainted. They just consider themselves grateful they found one, mortgage their house, and buy it. The same is true for lots of other collectible things.

Admittedly, a lousy refinish job should detract from its worth. But...there should be a path to redemption for any gun. It kind of bugs me that a refinisher like Ford's or equivalent isn't considered a positive, rather than a negative.