DelGrego value

[Phil C]

I would like the opinion of value on DelGrego refinished guns. Awhile back I acquired a 12 gauge GH with Damascus barrels that had a DelGrego recoil pad installed the gun I was told was restored by Delgreo in the 50's. I decided to find out for sure, so it was sent to Larry DelGrego where he inspected it and provided me with a letter confirming DelGrego had done the work, with the exception of the barrels as they have never did Damascus barrels. He felt the gun had been done by his father or grandfather. I will try to get some pictures later and post them, but just as a general rule I am trying to determine does a restored gun by DelGrego get valued at a percentage of a new condition gun?
Phil

[Bruce Day]

Is it "restored" with striped cyanide case colors and spray-on can lacquer finish? Some restorations have replacement stocks with too-thick wrists and transitions and sharply angled thumb grooves. "Restored" can mean many things and many restorations are not true restorations but only expedient approximate reconstructions.

The DelGregos have always done excellent mechanical work.

Many people who follow values closely say that a typical reconstruction has only half the value of a high to moderate condition original. One never knows how close the restoration was without seeing detailed photos. The true, exact, and costly restorations of rare or unusual Parkers sold recently at Julia's seem to bring the same or about the same as originals. While some would say that Parker collectors are too exacting, I also take the Winchester Collector's magazine. Winchester and Colt collectors are perhaps even more exacting, particularly when you have hundreds of old Colt revolvers selling for $100,000 or more.

[Dean Romig]

Bruce is exactly right. There are many definitions of "restored" and "refinished" and beauty (value) is in the eye of the beholder (potential buyer) and is entirely subjective.

[Phil C]

Here are some pictures.

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC_0160.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC_0159.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...r/DSC_0156.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSC_0152-1.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSC_0150-1.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSC_0149-1.jpg
http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...DSC_0148-1.jpg

[J.B. Books]

Looking at the forend checkering I am wondering if the forend wood is oiginal to the gun or if it was indeed restored by Delgrego and Sons. I mean no disrespect to your gun or the Delgrego's but the checkering on the forend looks right for a V or P grade but not a G.

Perhaps early G's had a different pattern? Maybe somebody here knows.

If the gun was done in the 50's or 60's it has seen little use since and well cared for.

[Pittypatdugan]

Asa Kelley and I bought a VH DelGrego #2 frame 12 gauge with a letter detailing what was done to the gun and price charged for the complete redo of the whole gun. It was beautiful, cost to us $ 1100. Asa ended up with the gun and traded it to TON 80 in Atlanta and he sold it for $2800 as fast as he put it up for sale. The gun look new and all screws and the wood were perfect, so every one came out well due to the efforts of the DelGrego family.

As Steven Cobb tells Asa and I , no one complains about a Purdy gun being sent back to Purdy for a little touch up but in the US the touch ups completely trash the value to some , to others they are bargains.


PDD

[Bill Murphy]

At least Larry DelGrego hasn't ruined a hundred thousand guns by hacking on the barrels like the highly regarded Brits have. Del Grego projects are headed for collector status if the subject gun was in good condition before restoration.

[CHE]

If you look closely at the foerend wood you will see the black staining near the metal. That should tell you the wood is indeed old. Now to really check you have to take it apart to see if the ser# is on the wood.

[Bill Murphy]

I don't doubt that LDG did the metal, but I have trouble believing that he did not do a better job getting the oil out of the forend wood. It is still a nice gun.

[Kevin McCormack]

Smart buyers today look for the better Del Grego restorations, especially on smallbore guns. The self-explanatory benefit in these guns is that nothing more need to be done with them; they are ready to take out and shoot. Provided there are no cut barrels, botched triggers, and no one has cut all the choke out of them, they are now and always will be a bargain. I have sold a half-dozen or so and always made a modest profit on each of them; also made it a point to include Del Grego's letter with the documentation for the sale. It never disappointed anyone who bought one, so far as I can tell. When you look at today's prices for total restoration, a 30-40 year-old Del Grego gun is always a bargain; it hurts to look at the old letters and the individual charges quoted compared to today's estimates. My completely redone 12 ga. VHE including NEW ejector beavertail forend installed cost me $336 in 1969. Of course, gas was around 28 cents a gallon then!