CraigC
Sixgun Nut
IMHO, if you are restoring a true collector grade Colt, you're barking up the wrong tree and Turnbull probably won't do the work anyway. That said, restoration work is typically not done to make money.Doug does beautiful work but in cases of valuable firearms his restoration work can create a showpiece but sometimes LOWERS the value of a gun. I had a very good friend (coincidentally Turnbull sells an homage to my late friend) who was a master gunsmith - the real deal. He and I worked together on restoring a first gen black powder Colt SAA .32-20 I bought at a gun show in Allentown PA in the 80's. John Kopek in CA did the casehardening, Jerry and I the rest. Gun is beautiful - I get a million comments on her - but today worth LESS than value in original condition (although things that John did when he was still working are gaining in value).
And for my own tastes, some of Turnbull's work - especially his case coloring - is TOO bright and shiny, far gaudier than I've ever seen on even high-end factory pieces.
Turnbull's case colors are very close to original Colt colors. If you see an original gun that has been properly stored, the colors are bright and vibrant. What makes Turnbull's colors stand out is the clear lacquer applied over the colors. In fact many 3rd generation Colt colors are very dull and I think this is why many people think they're supposed to be. Nobody seems to care that hot salt blue is completely different from the original charcoal blue.
In general, Americans are really weird about guns when it comes to refinishing or restoration. When you think about how best grade British guns get refurbished all the time, guns that cost tens of thousands of dollars, it's rather comical that people would balk at refinishing a $500 Ruger, or even a $2000 Colt. Too much obsession with originality and monetary value, too little focus on things that actually matter.