In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

value on restored guns

mr.big-amr.big-a Member Posts: 21 ✭✭
edited October 2001 in Ask the Experts
I have several beautifully restored Winchester shotguns and wonder what their valus is, compared to a new or 90% gun. They were done several years ago by a true artist and look and work as new. The action is like new and polished, metal, lettering sharp, wood all perfect.Regards, Jerry
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • Der GebirgsjagerDer Gebirgsjager Member Posts: 1,673 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Jerry- Your profile says you were in the pawn business, so I would think that you'd be among the most qualified to answer your own question. Anyway, it's a tough question to answer. Generally, restored guns are never worth what the same gun is worth in comparable original condition. The exception is guns that are so rare that a restored specimen is acceptable to a collector in lieu of the original conditon rarity he'll never be able to get. I use a thumbnail rule of 80% value, but finding a collector that wants a restoration is usually more difficult than finding someone with the money. It depends a great deal on what models your shotguns are. You're going to find a different clientele for a model 21 than you will for a model 101, and a different customer yet for a model 1200. If you want to sell them you could look up the value of an unrestored gun in comparable conditon in the Blue Book, figure what 80% is, and put it on Gunbroker.com with a reserve at that price and see what happens. By the way, welcome to the board. Best wishes.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • AntiqueDrAntiqueDr Member Posts: 691 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would add that a true restoration involves not only leaving edges and lettering sharp, but using the same polishing techniques, media, and the same bluing processes and wood finishing/checkering processes that were originally used.For example, a 3-digit sn Model 70 Winchester can have the most masterful polishing, all the letters perfectly recut, and the checking crisp as new - but if its salt-blue and/or the wrong varnish on the wood, then its just a reblue not a restoration.On certain makes/models, a properly restored gun done by a recognized master like Doug Turnbull can approximate the value of an original. Some more than the 80% mark, but in general that is a good rule of thumb.
    We buy, sell and trade quality guns and scopes!Ask us about Shepherd Scopes!Visit our website at www.ApaxEnterprises.com
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.