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winchester 94 mfg 1910
mikecarol63
Member Posts: 336 ✭✭✭
Hi all; Thanks for all the info you gave me in the past. Another question please.I have a WIN. rifle made in 1910, the barrel and the rest of the rifle are silver. there is no rust at all. If I were to have it professionally cleaned and re-blued, would that detract from the value of the gun? I don't know the value, the Bbl. is excellent, as well as the wood. Sometimes when I cock the lever, the hammer shoots back to the safe position. Any ideas as to why? And can parts be bought to remedy this? Also the rear sight is not original, where can I get a period date rear sight? Thanks in advance for all info.
MIKE
MIKE
Comments
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff<P><BR>
Kirk...I've always believed honest wear was preferable to refinishing!
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
BTW....Hope you're getting back your energy, and taking care of the boat[8D]
I really hate to do this, but I have to disagree with the Capt'n!!!Any refinishing would detract from its value. A longtime gunsmith could easily renotch the hammer or touch-up the trigger/sear.
Kirk...I've always believed honest wear was preferable to refinishing!
Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
I'm with hangfire if its refinished at all, by anyone the collector value is dramatically effected to some and simply lost to most ppl. i'm guilty of buyin a few [ very few ] refinished guns or guns in need of redoing, simply because i cant afford the ones in 100 percent condition....theres a substantial diffrence in the prices
I've always followed my father's advice: he told me, first to always keep my word and, second, to never insult anybody unintentionally. If I insult you, you can be damn sure I intend to. And, third, he told me not to go around looking for trouble.
John Wayne
I also agree that refinishing it is not a good idea (we are not picking on you Capt... we just have a different view point). If you do decide to have it refinished, I do not believe that the "current" company using the Winchester name will accept it for rework (liability issues with a nearly 100 year old firearm). The cost of having it refinished and repaired by a reputable shop will also exceed the current value of your rifle. I strongly suggest taking it to a qualifed 'smith to determine why the hammer is not staying at full cock when the lever is cycled... hopefully it will be something as easy as just needing a deep cleaning. As for finding a correct rear sight try the Want Ads forum on this site (or check ebay, I see them listed very frequently).
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
WACA Historian & Life Member
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
There is a big difference between having a gun cleaned and reblued, (refinished)and RESTORED. Put it in terms of a classic car, if you just put a cheap paint job on it, you really haven't addressed the power train or the interior of the car. Reblueing your gun is just about the same thing.
By your statement, "the barrel and the rest of the rifle are silver" that would lend me to believe the rifle is in the 10-20% range. With that much blue wear, the "corners" and radius' are probably a little flat too. A cheap blue job wont address that. A gun in that condition, as far as collectabillity, is very low on the list, it's not like it's at 80-90% and will command top dollar.
A blue job on that will most likely run $200-$300. But that doesn't cover the stocks, or worn out parts. To RESTORE the gun, most likely would start at $600 and run as high as $1000 depending on how many internal parts need to be repaired and or replaced. When RESTORING a Winchester, you completely tear the gun down, to nothing but pieces, including removing the barrel from the frame, (receiver). All parts are inspected for wear and function, those parts that need attention, get it. Meaning they are repaired or replaced. Winchester at that time was using several blueing methods, barrels were rust blued, the receiver and small parts were "hot" blued using the "dilute" salts if I remember correctly. All polishing is done by hand, the frame may be cleaned up by using a draw file. Care is given to the stampings on the barrel and frame as to not to destroy them. (they fill with soap stone to protect them during the polishing to insure they remmain sharp and crisp. The stocks are stripped, bad areas are addressed maybe with some filler if they can't be raised. Care is given to the wood metal fit to preserve the original fit. Then refinished to factory specs, like the metal.
The value on a RESTORED Winchester vs a reblued Winchester. I wont buy a reblued Winchester, but I'm interested in a RESTORED Winchester. A RESTORED Winchester will never have the value as an original gun in the same condition, This is were some people may disagree, but a RESTORED Winchester I feel will be worth the cost of restoration and more. To me it's like a classic car, if the RESTORATION was done to the factory requirements, it has value.
Yes I do know of several places that do Restorations of Winchesters. So what you really need to decide, is it worth the money to you. if you want to know them email me. If you restore it, it will last another 94 years. Regards Dave