I’m helping a friend who had some guns left in a closet and wanted to sell them. One of them was in a sock and is rusted and pitted pretty bad. It’s an early 70s Ithica model 100 side by side and if it was in better shape would be worth something. Because of the pitting and rust though I’m not sure she’ll get much for it.
It got me thinking about refinishing the gun and what that would do to the value. I was also thinking about my Browning A5. My dad bought it new in 1950 and I’ve had it for 10 years now. It’s in ok shape but it has been used a lot in its 59 years of life and shows it. I’ll never sell it. When my kids are old enough to appreciate it one of them will get it so the real value of it isn’t measured in money.
So the questions are, is it worth refinishing an older gun before selling it? Would anyone here think of refinishing a gun they have no intention of selling, ever? How about older guns that you might sell but are a little threadbare? Does refinishing devalue them?
It got me thinking about refinishing the gun and what that would do to the value. I was also thinking about my Browning A5. My dad bought it new in 1950 and I’ve had it for 10 years now. It’s in ok shape but it has been used a lot in its 59 years of life and shows it. I’ll never sell it. When my kids are old enough to appreciate it one of them will get it so the real value of it isn’t measured in money.
So the questions are, is it worth refinishing an older gun before selling it? Would anyone here think of refinishing a gun they have no intention of selling, ever? How about older guns that you might sell but are a little threadbare? Does refinishing devalue them?