"Touch up" before trying to sell?

[Joe Lester]

Hello, everyone. My father gave me a 1930 Parker Brothers 12 ga over 30 years ago. I never really used it as I was into other firearms. Currently, the outside is pitted and a little rough. Does it make sense to have someone "make it pretty" before I put it up for sale?

Appreciate any and all responses.

Thank you.

Joe

[Steve Huffman]

No leave as is it looks like a honest gun. I cant see pits I see surface rust . Let the new owner take over .

[Brian Dudley]

It is a 12g Trojan. Sale value will not be very high. Apart from a good cleaning, you will never recoup the money spent.

[Bill Anderson]

One picture doesn't show me much, but if you just have surface rust, try rubbing with 0000 steel wool and gun oil. This alone can really make a difference sometimes and you won't get charged for it. It will not hurt the bluing. I use a product called Blue Wonder, thicker than oil and not so messy, often to enhance rusty guns to squeak out more dollars, and it will still be an "honest gun".

Bill

[Joe Lester]

Thank you for your replies. I will look for Blue Wonder.

I have had a few folks tell me it should be worth around $700.

Would you folks agree or disagree with that figure?

Thx again.

Joe

[Bill Anderson]

Check out a 90 day back search on Gunbroker, under the heading "completed items". Compare what similar shotguns to yours sold for or at least what they were listed for. That will give you an approximate starting point.

Bill

[allen newell]

Use a Frontier pad on the barrels

[Joe Lester]

Will do.