B2, what is blasphemous to the collector community are those who cannot accept a little age and the marks that go with a few lifetimes of existence, who would strip and refinish and stain something to make it into what it is not - a new arm or an arm that was always in perfect shape.
I posed the question "If I could get a Chinese T53 with a refinished stock and touch-up reblue, is it worth more than one that has not been touched? If so, how much would be fair to pay over the price of one that is not refinished?" over on the collectors forum. This is what they said:
"In my opinion from a "collector's" point of view, a refinished stock and reblue of any kind deminishes the value of them. I will buy a "ragged, beat up, been there done that" specimen (as long as it is shootable) before I buy a prettied up one."
"A refinished probably mismatched T53? $50 IMO "
"A refinish kills any value to me personally, usually for most collectors that's true. In the case of these t53s though, value seems to be a wash."
"I agree and would also would value a refinished C&R lower than an original example."
As a general rule in firearms, refinishing seldom returns on its investment - professional jobs just about never return on investment - while historic arms (even those made in the millions) usually go down in value with such a job.
I had a Tanfoglio hard-chromed once because it was my knock-around pistol. I know there is no way I could get $600 for that pistol, which is the combined cost of the pistol and the refinishing job.
Of course, that works out nicely, too. I have an 1812 Klingenthaul-manufactured French Cuirassier's sword with scabbard that was likely at the Battle of Waterloo. A previous owner used a chemical brass polish to polish up the hilt and basket to make it shine. Luckily nothing was done to the grip and the idiot had not gotten around to polishing the blade. But that brass shined like it was new (in most places, at the ricasso and pommel the polishing was not so good).
As a result, the collecting community ignored it. I am a far more patent kind of guy so I bought it for $300. It was normally a $1,000 and up sword. I took it home an carefully degreased the brass and then hung it on the wall. That was about ten years ago and while the verdigris that should be there is not as deep as it could be, in time it will return. It no longer shines like a cheap copy. By the time I pass it on to somebody else (we own nothing in this world) the damage done will be reversed. Refinishing a stock, unfortunately, doesn't allow that to happen.
It's the sabre at the bottom. You suppose I would make it worth more if I refinished that Brown Bess above?
