How does a Damascus refinish affect desirability?

[Matt Buckley]

I purchased a 12 gauge hammer gun from a fellow member with a set of 30" twist barrels refinished by Breck and they are beautiful and I think make the gun worth more to me than the same barrels in rough shape on the outside. It's always interesting to me how over here in America we as collectors are so big on "original" while when I look at doubles from England I think we hardly ever and may be never buy an original gun that hasn't been refinished/refurbished at some point. It is common practice across the pond to send in your guns yearly for cleaning/refurbishing. And they know how to put together a pretty nice double barrel across the pond.

[Bill Murphy]

I wish I had a canned reply about British guns and British gunsmiths and their treatment of bores and gun finish. British gunsmiths regularly bore out barrels and grind the finish off of barrels to the point that British auction houses are flush with fine guns with "barrel walls under safe limits" or whatever other terms they use for trashed out guns. Holt's auction is full of such guns. Trashed out, refinished guns are no more accepted in Great Britain than they are here in the USA. A clean, original Purdey sells for thousands of dollars more than a trashed out, refinished Purdey. Yes, in GB just like in the USA.

[Big D]

Don't all British guns have to be reproofed (reproved?) before sale?

[Austin J Hawthorne Jr.]

Just my opinion, but, aren't most of the better British guns refinished/refurbished by the guns maker, in most cases, as opposed to some of the non-professional ( restorers ) that attempt to "pretty up " some trashed out guns that show up for sale from time to time over here? Thin barrels are another matter but I doubt that the better British "gunmakers" would re-bore a barrel to the point that it would not pass proof, and then send it along to its owner. Independent gunsmiths, however, may have a different take on the matter of thinning the barrels to clean up the bore of a customers gun.
Refurbishment, to me, is not a problem as long as it is done tastefully and the safety of the gun is not compromised.

[Mike of the Mountain]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hodges

I think the reality of these guns is they are all getting old and a few tweaks to keep them looking and functioning well may be needed, not akin to a new knee or hip, LOL

Steve, just because we're not 100% original condition doesn't mean we're not "classics"!!

[Milton C Starr]

For me it really depends, my favorite are these ones that arent quite brown but have what I would call a honey color to them or patina especially chain damascus I dont think the is a better looking type and finish than this for damascus.

My grade 2 barrels have a similar color and I have seen a few other Parker hammerguns with similar colored barrels.

[Ken Hill]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

Don't all British guns have to be reproofed (reproved?) before sale?

No they don't need to be reproofed (reproved). They have to be in proof for sale in the UK and there are rules to follow (e.g., chambers not lengthened, walls within 10 thousandth of last proof, choke tubes not added). They are supposed to be in proof when sold in the UK to a foreign customer.

Ken

[Bill Murphy]

There is a gun in Holt's auction with .012 wall thickness in one barrel. It passed proof and is being sold as "in proof". British proof is a crock. Of course, that is not what we're discussing here. We're discussing the poor quality of UK gunsmiths who grind out barrels, inside and out, to the point that auctioneers have to describe a fine gun "wall thickness below recommended minimums".

[Ken Hill]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

There is a gun in Holt's auction with .012 wall thickness in one barrel. It passed proof and is being sold as "in proof". British proof is a crock. Of course, that is not what we're discussing here. We're discussing the poor quality of UK gunsmiths who grind out barrels, inside and out, to the point that auctioneers have to describe a fine gun "wall thickness below recommended minimums".

Probably a good one to stay away from unless you want to sleeve or rebarrel the gun.

Ken

[Craig Larter]

I sure would like to get back to my original question/topic.