BH Again, Help with Value, Restore or not?

[Kensal Rise]

Any history or inherent value in this gun would be totally destroyed by "restoration."

What's more, there is no point in even thinking about it. The gun is beautiful as it is!

I'd keep it just as it is. And encourage the next owner to do likewise.

Best, Kensal

[Bruce Day]

Originally Posted by Kensal Rise

Any history or inherent value in this gun would be totally destroyed by "restoration."

...

I do not concur. The PGCA restored the John Browning AH . Many, many, high grade guns with history have been restored. Some are publicly known to have been restored, others not known and I'm not saying. I know of museum Parkers that have been restored. Others in the top collections have been touched up or well restored by the one or two good restorers. Some restorations result in increased value, but many many have bad results.

I saw a restored GHE 20ga go for $13,000 then $17,500, then resold for $22,000. Four years ago at Julia's three high grade Parkers were initially determined and cataloged as high condition original. The restorer personally corrected the Julia error. Auction results remained as originally estimated for two of the guns and the other went for above estimate, so for all three value increased over what they had been before restoration .

But, I still wouldn't mess with this one.