Mark Callanan's thread on value of original vs restored has brought up a lot of good points that I'd like to explore further so therefor a new thread so as not to hijack his any further.
The English have sent their guns back to the respective maker after the season for ever with no real determint to value to have them freshened up. This might mean the barrels get reblacked, the stock refinished, case color redone etc. This process has always had a negative effect on American guns be it a Parker or a Winchester M70 etc.
My question is what is the opinion here of haveing a little TLC done to a 100+ year old Parker going to do to its value?
My case in point is a CHE damascuss 20ga. IMHO the barrels could use the expertise of Dale Edmonds/Brad Batchelder and the Silvers pad is flat as a pancake. To replace the pad isn't a big concern as I would retain the original pad with the gun. Once the barrels are done the "originality" is lost forever. This is one of the more rare guns I have as according to TPS only 8 were made with 26 inch bbls and th gun is exactly as the PGCA letter depics.
I have been told not to touch this as "where are you going to find a 100% original gun like this one?"
Opinions please
Original vs TLC
Threaded Mode