So just what is it with "collectors" anyway?

My .02, people are just that way.

My dad is one of them and he isn't going to change. I get a smile over that fact that steel beer can I found in the woods and shot holes in could have been worth some money once I showed him my shooting skills as a 12 yr old (about 25yrs ago) or the wrench he saw my 4yr old working on his bike with saying to me "that's Snapon you need to keep that nice" you mean not use it dad?

Hopefully your friend has some nice stuff and hopefully it is appreciating at more than .05% per decade, I really can wait to inherit all the collectibles I am going to receive when he passes.

I collect Sistema's (Argentine 1911's) and I have no problem getting them reblued. Now they all look *good* and I keep them looking that way.

I'd much rather have a nice looking pistol worth 'regular' value than one that looks like it's been dragged behind a truck worth 2x as much because it's never been reblued.

I had a Winchester 1897 12 ga pump shotgun that was about 70% that I took to a gunsmith to get reblued. He talked me out of it and he was probably right. It had no rust, just a "weathered" look. I gave it to my Son-in-law. Some day my Grandson will own it.

My Mom had a Stevens Crackshot .22 that she used for rat control on their dairy in Oklahoma. It was a gift from her Dad in 1934. In 1975 she got it back from my uncle all rusted up. My Father had it reblued and he refinished the stock. My Mom gave it to me about 20 years ago. It has lost no "value" to me. My Dad passed on several years ago and I treasure the care he put into that rifle that cost $4 new.

Last year I bought a S&W model 1917 with a battered old set of wood grips that someone had had reblued. Whoever did it did a great job. I replaced the grips and now it's a pristine gun.

Moral of the story: Whatever trips your trigger. It's yours to do with what you want.

Don't worry about others opinions. I't is YOUR gun after all.
If he is so worried about the future value of the gun, offer to sell it to him for what he thinks it will be worth is it's current condition + 50 years.

All my guns are shooters. Should I choose to refinish, reblue, or paint any gun I choose that is my business and none of anyone elses.

I don't buy guns as investments. But that's just me.

Smoke

Some people would not burn firewood because it might be worth more once it petrifies.

It's a Dick Special, not Doc Holiday's derringer. It's also yours. Reblue it if you like. I appreciate honest wear myself, but it ain't my gun. The fellow probably wanted to show he knew more about "collecting and preservation" than you, it's all a subtle game of one upmanship. When you see him next, tell him you had the barrel replaced with one from a Ruger.

It's yours, so relax.

That said, this years Bluebook has a number of articles about the "new" respectability of professional restoration (as opposed to a "grind and reblue".

Far from "ruining it", a good restoration will fetch 70 - 80% of the bluebook value of an arm in equal original condition. I gather this new paradigm has much to do with Harrah's, restored classic autos and the professionalism and expertise of people like Doug Turnbull.

I'd guess the Colt comes under the "Doug Turnbull" class of resto's.

Maybe your collector friend just needs to catch up with the times...

Occasionally you will find an older gun (pre-World War Two and backwards) that was blued using methods that are generally unavailable today. In other words as a practical matter the original finish cannot be duplicated. In these cases serious thought should be be given to the question; "Is it better to preserve what's left of the original finish rather then refinish using a different "incorrect for the period" finish?

However, if you were to return your Colt Detective Special for rebluing the company would use the same process as they did when the gun was made. After the gun was reblued only a qualified expert could tell that it wasn't the original finish. On the part of collectors, there is far less objection to factory refinishing if the finish that's applied is the "correct" one. I would not hesitate to send back my own 2nd. Issue Detective Special for refinishing, and I am one of those collectors who is picky about preserving older guns.

As usual, friend Fuff nails it.

I'm no expert but the ability of the "restorers" to duplicate the original work looks to be a big part of its surge of acceptability.

There are several, this is just an example from Turnbull:

We carefully match the appropriate level of polish to original manufacturer specifications. For example on rust blued Parker shotgun barrels we start with a file and finish the barrels with gentle longitudinal strokes of 240 grit to match original factory specifications. On small screw heads like the ones found on Colt SAA revolvers we polish to a 1000 grit finish and use a fire blue (nitre blue) to ensure a brilliant high-contrast "Spring Blue". We currently offer rust blue, nitre blue and charcoal blue finishes. In addition we also offer traditional blackening for later guns and military "Black Army" that was prevalent on 1911 Colt handguns of late 1918 war time manufacture.

Click to expand...

The number of different finishes that were applied to original 1911's is a study in itself.

Comparing a Turnbull or equivalent to a "reblue" is comparing a full frame-off auto restoration to a pass through the MAACO 99.00 booth. 'Taint the same. Not even close, and collectors are largely on board with that.

I think the fact that many folks collect things is a fascinating snap-shot into the mind of Americans (and others). All I can say is I'm not one of them. If my kid wants a toy action figure - she's darn well going to play with it (at least once). Pistols are tools and are meant to be used as such.

My two pennies.

While it won't make sense now, 50 to 75 years down the road your grandchild will see the price difference as the DS was never in the matte finish.

Mr. Turnbull does some excellent work, but it is justifiably expensive. Some antique or classic guns are valuable enough to be worth a Turnbull restoration, but many more common guns are not. Colt will refinish a Detective Special to a high-gloss blue using the same process and chemicals they did when these late model revolvers were made. This does not apply to those guns made before World War Two.

The real key point when it comes to factory refinishing a firearm with collector value (or the potential for same) is to decide if the new finish will duplicate the original one, or be something entirely different. Refinishing a collectable with the wrong finish may substantially reduce its value, while refinishing a post-World War Two gun with identically the same finish, applied by the gun's manufacturer may actually increase the value.

It all boils down to a matter of judgment.

One other note: Other then collectables that are in brand new, unfired condition there is no reason they can't be shot. I often enjoy shooting collectables, while at the same time watching they're value go up. While I understand the "guns are tools" argument, I sort of like making $$$$ too. You might say that over the years I've had my cake, and got to eat it too.

Knowledgeable collectors are crazy like a fox ...

Get it reblued if that makes you happy. I accumulate guns, and I would never refinish an old gun. That's me. You can always buy new ones to shoot and play with. Once a gun gets to about 90%, you pretty much can't hurt it as long as you take reasonably good care of it. After the reblue, please be honest if you sell the gun. Honesty and Intergrity.

Well, everybody has an opinion, and my thought on this is that blueing is maintenance; much like getting your car paint touched up.

It is your piece and you're free to keep it in the condition that pleases you.

"...how rebluing it will adversely affect its "collectability."..." He right. If it were a collector's piece. However, since it isn't, although there are some that are, do what you want with it. Your kid swill be happy they have 'dad's old gun' in any condition.

I refuse to own any gun that I won't shoot.

If I get it, that sucker's going to the range, and it's going to go "BANG!"

Therefore, none of my guns have "collector value," or at least they won't once I'm done with them.....

hillbilly

To a collector it gives an item more value to be in original pristine condition or even in original aged/used condition that to be refinished. So what if collectors like to collect items that are usually in original condition. I'd much rather have a nice looking pistol worth 'regular' value than one that looks like it's been dragged behind a truck worth 2x as much because it's never been reblued.

It is kind of the same with some gun enthusiasts who are shooters as oposed to gun collectors. The shooters prefer to have a working gun, to be fired whenever and; they prefer it to be well maintained over being in an original but not so great condition. So they maintain their guns and have them reblued as needed.

I don't see the point in getting bothered over all of it, it is your gun to do with as you want. Then again, if it was a gun that was worth $150,000.00 in original condition and you (generic) wanted to reblue it, well I would consider you sort of nuts but, I imagine that this particular Colt is not one of those.

There is a bit of logic I do not understand though, that is if I read the following quote correctly:

That is part of collecting. I'd much rather have a nice looking pistol worth 'regular' value than one that looks like it's been dragged behind a truck worth 2x as much because it's never been reblued.

Click to expand...

Tell me, if you have a gun that is a 'collectible' and part of its value is that it is in original condition, even if that condition is not the best shape: Would you really rather have that same gun reblued if you knew it decreased the value to 'regular' value especially when it had been valued at 2x higher price before rebluing?

If that is correct, then all I can sday is EGADS gun nuts of the world! Wake up before it is too late - opportunity knocks. You could have easily sold that gun for 2x the value and bought another in reblued condition and then had enough left over to buy another gun. Now I am not talking about guns that hold sentimental value for you, they are maybe priceless. I am talking about a gun you buy and want to have reblued and someone tells you: 'Hey that gun is worth 2x more not reblued' and; they are not kidding because some collector type nut will buy it from you at a much higher price. I would sell it pronto and find another and then take the money I have left over and put it toward something good. Maybe you guys are all made of money but I have a lot of expenses and when the goose lays the golden eggs, I am not having them blued!

All the best,
Glenn B

Glenn B,
Well said. The monetary 'value' of a collector's piece is only realized when there is an actual buyer willing to pay the price. Just sitting in the safe it migh please one mightily, but it ain't cash money.

Now aside from genuine historical arms...say original Colt Walkers and such, the collectors market is a fickle one. What's coveted today ain't necessarily going to be the case tomorrow. My dad collected vintage cameras and carefully restored and re-finished some pre-WWI pieces. They all worked as though they came from the factory. Shutters timed correctly and leather bellows were soft and light proof. They had little to no value if the shutters were glued tight with congealed oil. One could take pictures with them and experience the same complicated process as the original owners and be just as amazed at the pictures turning out.

Much as the restored cars. If a 1958 Jaguar XK-150 roadster isn't running you've lost ninety % of the total experience of owning. I want to hear the exhaust tooling down the road.( an awesome sound I remember well)

How far does the collectors bug go? Does a Colt SAA have less valuable because it doesn't have the original trigger spring? To each his own...but if one hangs on to a piece hoping for a payout later be prepared for surprises in both directions.

Kind'a Off Topic

Greeting's All-

Congrat's Boats my friend on the 3rd issue Colt Dick's Special

We must have been look'in for the same type weapon, as on Friday
15 July 2005 I picked up a cherry (99%+) 2nd issue (1971) Colt
Dick's Special myself; with NO visible signs of wear. My ole' bud
even threw in a Bianchi black, unlined leather holster for the DS.
My cost, the price of a NIB S&W model 642. I think I did well on
this one my friend. Enjoy~

Tell me, if you have a gun that is a 'collectible' and part of its value is that it is in original condition, even if that condition is not the best shape: Would you really rather have that same gun reblued if you knew it decreased the value to 'regular' value especially when it had been valued at 2x higher price before rebluing?

Click to expand...

In my case with the Sistema's the vast majority of them have been arsenal refinished...so I don't even blink when I think about having one of those reblued. I just picked up one of the 'original' Hartford Colt Sistemas (this is one of the models where the value is higher if the finish is original). The finish was in pretty rough shape...but using our example above, I only paid 'regular' value for it. Now it looks like a brand new pistol and I'm very pleased with it (which is what matters since it's my pistol!).

To answer your question, yes I would have the gun reblued. I'm not collecting museum grade pistols here...but I do want the pistols I collect to look 'nice' and function safely (even if that means replacing original parts).

Here's a pic of a Sistema in about 75% condition...


And here's 3 of the ones I've had reblued...

It may be hard to see with something today, but when you have seen a suit of armor 500 years old that has been lovingly preserved through the generations, it says something to me. Ditto with a classic Colt or Winchester or a pre-war Luger - somebody cared enough to leave a beautiful artifact for posterity.

I suspect you object to the attitude of the collector more than to the thing itself. I know they can be snotty.

The particular gun you cite is not one of the classics, but you and I are not going to be around 500 years from now anyway, so who knows. All I know is I appreciate seeing something that has been handed down through generations and cared for, even though those persons knew it would be passed on to persons yet unknown. You do what you want to do.