So When is "Original" no longer Original?

[Ron Scott]

Originally Posted by James Purdy

I am new to the association, This thread is a topic of interest close to me. As some know I jumped into the parker club with a bhe I bought from poor quality auction photos alone. This gun fits into the undocumented factory repair group. It has newer parker barrels of the original Type steel and length, but of a later manufacture indicated by the serial font and the replaceable wear piece on the hook being later style. All else appears to be as the gun left he factory the first time. The gun will be having work done This winter to repair damage to the wrist. I treat these types of gun as I would any other piece of fine art. If the work is done right by the appropriate craftsman as a picasso would be repaired by a “conservator”
It does not deminish the gun as a whole, only its originality. Gun collectors place a large value on that originality. However, It is a state that exists only once, and I doubt many 100% condition guns of this era are untouched. A stock having a dent raised in 1925, and the repair skillfully blended would be invisible now. So it comes down to a personal subjective opinion, One that is difficult to quantify.
So I buy and shoot the guns I want in the condition that appeals to me. Plus I keep good records of work done and share that information freely with any gun that leaves my fold.
I don't chase unused guns. It is not my passion, i like the gun with a life lived, and cared for well.

My feelings exactly.