At What Point Do You Restore??

vintagemc313

Just like to get some opinions out there. At what point do you restore. I have a rough percussion shotgun, which at this point has virtually no value. When do you determine that's it's better to restore than to leave as is?

Maxx424

I think you answerd your own question. With no value at this point have fun with it.

rhmc24

If it is "rough" and worth very little, you can probably make it look a lot better and maybe you and your friends will like it better if you do some restoration. With little to lose, I'd say remove rust down to mostly bright metal and polish a little, then do a re-browning job. Refinish the wood and you can have a respectable looking wall hanger.

Some people prefer their wall hangers in 'as found' condition. It's a matter of opinion and preference.

Fatstrat

I'd have to ask what your definition of "restore" is?
Make like new, or just bring back to firing condition?
Alot depends on current condition and possible value of piece after "restoration".
I tend to want to leave as much originality as possible if there is any collector value involved.
Patina'd finishes and a few stock dings are to be expected on old guns IMO are preferable to a new blue and refinished stock.
It's a hard question to answer w/o more info on the gun in question.

Bert H.

There is no "simple" or easy answer to your question. Way too many variables exist for anyone to make an informed decision or reply.

That said, and making a few erudite assumptions, it most likely is not ever going to be "better" to restore an old percussion shotgun.

First assumption... it has a damascus barrel(s). If so, and if truely in "rough" condition, nothing short of replacing the barrel(s) entirely would fix the problem inherent with 130+ year old damascus steel.

Second assumption... your gun has no historical or collector value. Again, if that is a correct statement, then you would be wasting perfectly good $$$ to restore it.

Typically, the vast number of old percussion shotguns are worth about $100 - $200 as a mantle decoration (though I have seen people ignorantly pay more than that). My advice to you... mount it above the fireplace or on the wall, and use it as a conversation piece about times long ago past.

walther86

It could also depend on personal value. I have an old shotgun my grandpa gave me. It's probably not worth too much, but if it's a gun I want to pass on to my kids then I'd probably put some restoration efforts into it to keep it going in the family. You just have to draw your own line and decide what you want to do with it.