macolle said
Deluxe checkered wood. You think original or added?

  

The stocks and checkering on the Deer Rifle appear to be factory

Bert H. said

macolle said

Deluxe checkered wood. You think original or added?

  

Original, but refinished.  This is right in the middle of several other Model 64 Deer Rifles.

Bert

  

Bert,  With respect to this Deer Rifle, when you say “Original but refinished”, I assume you mean the wood has been refinished? To my less experienced eye, it looks like the buttstock’s underlying color is different, as if Winchester’s original reddish brown homogenizing stain had been removed in the process of removing the original lacquer. The topcoat is also brighter than satin.  It doesn’t appear the semi-beavertail forearm has been subjected (as completely, anyway) to the same treatment. although that may just be the effect of the lighting. What are the clues you see that indicate a refinishing?  

We had discussed in the past the phenomenon of Winchester serials having been marked through the original blue on the Model 71, leaving a bright aura surrounding the digits. In looking at an enlargement of the serial on this Deer Rifle on the underside of its receiver,  the same thing looks to have occurred, indicating an original steel finish?

Bert,

Thanks, this is how I learn.  The refinisher distorted the tang and rear receiver inletting while removing the old finish and prepping for a new topcoat. Do you think the forearm was refinished?

You can also see the butt plate to stock fit is off indicating the stock was sanded.

Impossible to put wood back on the stocks…a gun is only original once

As a general rule applicable to Collectors (capitalized to indicate only those of purest ray serene) Ted is right — 100% means all original, but there are de minimus repairs to the furniture that a highly skilled craftsman can make that 99.99% of them can’t detect and, if detected, don’t offend lesser beings such as me. 

For myself,  if an otherwise nice standard  20″ Model 64, preferably with a later semi-beavertail forearm rather the butt heavy one with a skinny pickle fork forearm I used to have, showed up with a divot chipped out of the toe,  at a price that made some room for a good repair, I’d jump on it. 

One big difference is the potential resale customer — not Customer. Since I buy things I like and want to play with,  I don’t give much thought to whether it’s going to appreciate and at what rate. My experience is old Winchesters that are handsome and have been well kept but suffer minor cosmetic flaws in the wood, particularly if those flaws have been corrected, do quite well in the marketplace — that is, they can be sold without taking a bath and often for whatever appreciation applies to like goods generally.  I

There are limits,  of course.  I wish whoever (likely more than.one) uglified my Model 92 and dumped it for what.was was worth at that point,  would stick to used Red Ryders..