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Refinished Winchesters

stevemmstevemm Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
edited December 2003 in Ask the Experts
A friend wants to sell his Winchester collection and asked me to look at them. Among them are two refinished pieces: a 1892 Saddle Ring and a 1906 Expert (.22 cal. in nickel). Is there a rule of thumb on about how much refinishing reduces the value of the piece?

Comments

  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello stevemm...

    Not exactly... it depends more on which Model and variation Winchester, and the rarity of the features on the gun in question.

    Standard Model 1892 Carbines are very common... Trappers are not. A refinished Trapper (especially one of them with a 12" or 13" barrel) will retain more of its value due its relative rarity. A standard run-of-the-mill 20" barreled SRC that has been refinished is a serious hit in the value... especially if it has been poorly done. All to often, some local 'smith simply reblues one of them, and in the process, polishes the crap out of it (removing original markings or significantly degrading them).

    As for the Model 1906 Expert, those were factory nickle plated... what makes you believe that it has been refinished? The 1906 Expert is quite rare in comparison to the standard model, so it may not suffer too much of a value loss.

    The real truth is in the eye of the beholder on refinished Winchesters, but generally speaking, purists will steer clear of refinished specimens (preferring to continue the hunt for that high condition, original piece). I hope my ramblings have not confused the issue more than they already were for you, but there are simply no hard fast rules about this topic... other than the fact that refinished Winchesters are never worth as much as an untouched original.


    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • stevemmstevemm Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks Bert,

    The 92 is a pretty standard piece in 25-20. The refinishing is pretty good, with all markings intact.

    The owner of the guns had the 1906 re-nickeled. It was the model with all nickel (no blue parts) and is quite rare. Unfortunately the nickel showed some wear and he had it re-nickeled.
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello once more Steve,

    The Model 1892 in my estimation will suffer about a 60% drop in value, maybe more, because it is in the least desirable of all the calibers in the 1892.

    The Model 1906 however, may be a different story... depending upon the quality of the re-nickle. If it was properly stripped of all the original nickle plating before being re-plated, it could (and should) look very good, and retain a significant portion of its value. Again, it will be up to the buyer to decide how much of a detractor the re-nickled finish really is. If it were me, and the work is of superb quality, I would be looking for a 25% or so reduction in the value, but this is just my opinion.

    Does this fellow happen to have any Winchester Model 1885s in his collection?



    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • stevemmstevemm Member Posts: 46 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Bert,

    He has a 73, 86, 92, 94, 95 and the 1906. Sorry, no single shots.

    Steve
  • Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,281 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by stevemm
    Bert,

    He has a 73, 86, 92, 94, 95 and the 1906. Sorry, no single shots.

    Steve


    Rats[:(] Thanks the the reply though[:)]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!

    WACA Historian & Life Member

  • wundudneewundudnee Member Posts: 6,108 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A full nickle 1906 expert would be a choice item. But in my opinion a renickle would just about ruin the collectibility of it. A person could take any expert and nickle plate it. It must now have a letter of originality now to retain any value over a nice rare shooter. I would love to have either a 1/2 or full nickle 1906. I have seen many 1890s that have been plated and or engraved and while they are quite attractive, they are ruined for their collectibility.

    Of course this is just my narrow minded, uneducated, unschooled opinion.

    ....................
    Old? First you forget names; then you forget faces; then you forget to pull your zipper up; then you forget to pull your zipper down.
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  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 51,593 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Reduction in value also depends in part on how recently the refinish was done. It hurts value less if the refinish was done say, back in the 40's than if it was done 2 years ago.

    My heros have always killed cowboys.
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