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05-05-2019, 03:45 PM | #3 | ||||||
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I think it is very situational and can differ from gun to gun. If getting it restored gives you higher pride of ownership and you use it more than I would do it.
You can take it to any level you like. I wouldn't be afraid to make the gun yours so to speak. Then you'll use it more. On Parkers, the 2 guns I have refinished the barrels and had the stocks re-checkered and refinished are those 2 guns are on the top of the list as some of my favorite Parkers. I did have a Fox Sterlingworth completely restored and I love it to, but looking back I wish I had just done the barrels and stock and not re-case color the receiver. Though I have a few hammer guns that I would like to have the receivers case colored. So it can be complicated. I also think having respected gunsmiths do the work helps and can add value as well. They should be able to give valuable advice and help you make decisions on what to do for the restoration. |
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05-05-2019, 03:56 PM | #4 | ||||||
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I see nothing wrong with bringing an old gun back to service if it's done properly. The British and their contemporaries from across the pond have historically had their guns serviced from basic cleaning to redoing the barrels ect. For some reason we frown on the practice.
If some TLC makes the Winchester more appealing to you both in appearance and functionality then I say go for it. The next caretaker will undoubtedly thank you for it.
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There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter...Earnest Hemingway |
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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Rich Anderson For Your Post: |
05-05-2019, 05:03 PM | #5 | ||||||
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My personal take on the whole scheme of things is if a person owns it and they want it done more power to them . For my “own” stuff I don’t like the words that begin with “re” . I honestly prefer a gun that’s an honest 40% gun over a completely restored gun .
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Parker’s , 6.5mm’s , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s and my family in the Philippines ! |
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The Following User Says Thank You to CraigThompson For Your Post: |
05-05-2019, 05:28 PM | #6 | ||||||
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My philosophy is do what is never necessary to make it look unrestored and untouched. If the titanic barrels have multiple deep scratches from a fall by all means reblue them. If screws are buggered by all means get them repaired. If the checkering is mostly gone have it lightly recut. These are old guns and shouldn't look new, if you want the new look buy a RBL and bypass Parkers, Foxes or any of the vintage guns.
I understand that strong CC sells guns but an untouched Parker well cared for with little CC is a treasure in my opinion, however rare. Many have asked me why don't you get the initials taken care of on my #6 frame D hammer gun. My feeling is it's part of the guns history and that is important to me. Martin E Wampler stamped his initials in the stock and as long as I'm the caretaker they will remain. |
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Craig Larter For Your Post: |
05-05-2019, 07:16 PM | #7 | ||||||
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If I had a '73 that had been owned by Cochise and used in many a' battle back in the day and had a stock he had carved out of one of Custers wagons with a knapped knife and multiple dings and marks that were the result of him chasing buffalo across the prairie and taking some falls in the process, I'd leave it as is. If it has a stock carved from a pc of wooden fence plank by a Kansas farmer in 1950 and it looks like hell and has other operational issues that would make it unsafe, unreliable or shorten it's life and I wanted to shoot it, I'd unapologetically give it the full monty treatment and bring it back to life if I chose to. If the gun continues to be used, no one will notice or care 100yrs down the road.
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The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Richard Flanders For Your Post: |
05-05-2019, 08:58 PM | #8 | ||||||
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I will just second Craig as he said it best.
I do enjoy taking guns that are one step away from the scrap yard and bringing them back to shooting conditions. |
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Mills Morrison For Your Post: |
05-05-2019, 09:20 PM | #9 | ||||||
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There is something rewarding about taking a heavily used and sometimes neglected gun and getting it back into shooting condition. It is often my motivation for buying project guns.
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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Jay Oliver For Your Post: |
05-05-2019, 11:34 PM | #10 | ||||||
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