To restore a collectible Winchester or not?|Page 5|Restoration, Repair and Maintenance|Forum|Winchester Collector

One of our WACA members restores Shelby Cobras.  -Chuck

Until recently (or maybe even currently?) some folks actually raced Cobras in vintage races. I suppose that would be like taking a One of One Thousand on a two-week African safari. 

Mike

martin rabeno said
Interesting discussions to say the least and all god points made.
So, as I make it out. Repairs and restorations, not fakes, are acceptable as long as there is full disclose to prevent thievery down the road. As long as it is done skillfully and correctly. Right ? Of course a restored firearm is not everyone’s cup of tea and naturally worth a fraction of an unrestored one
  

As long as there is provable full disclosure, I see nothing ethically wrong (or, for the artisans involved, hazardous) with a restoration and the market will decide what the piece is worth. 

Personally, I’d rather see an abused wreck of a good Winchester restored rather than parted out and, in one small instance, have done just that. 

I suppose there could be an issue in the case of a truly unique arm – say, the pistol used by Burr to kill Alexander Hamilton in their duel. If it existed in 30% condition and had absolute provenance, anything beyond wiping it down to preserve it from further deterioration would be wrong. 

What somebody wants to do with a rusted piece of steel that was once part of a valuable and rare, but not unique, gun does not bump my revulsion meter.

Building a gun around it and palming it off as real and original is a felony and should get the perp a good stretch of “porridge and mailbags”, as the coppers at Scotland Yard liked to put it. 

martin rabeno said
Interesting discussions to say the least and all god points made.
So, as I make it out. Repairs and restorations, not fakes, are acceptable as long as there is full disclose to prevent thievery down the road. As long as it is done skillfully and correctly. Right ? Of course a restored firearm is not everyone’s cup of tea and naturally worth a fraction of an unrestored one
  

Martin-

I’m not sure you’re asking this question of the right people. The purist collector will not be interested in the results of even the best quality restoration, if he can detect it. Many times he considers himself the temporary custodian of the guns he loves. The folks paying the big bucks for high condition firearms don’t seem to be quite as picky, as long as it looks like it should. This category of collector may very well lurk here but probably doesn’t post much if at all. He makes his preference known at the auctions. In my observation there are an abundance of less discriminating collectors, knowingly or unknowingly, at all price levels of collectible Winchesters. As there are fewer unmolested examples every day the future of this hobby will have to recognize the value of the non-original specimen. The high condition, original specimen will always be ultimate prize but many disappear into private collections for decades at a time. 

I think the answer to your question is the same as to the collector who has a nice specimen that needs a bit of oil on the stock, a few screw slots straightened up, a sight repaired or replaced with the correct model or an abused specimen needing a complete restoration with new wood, new barrel, new stampings and new finish; your gun, your money, your call. 

Quite frankly, if this isn’t a hypothetical question I’m looking forward to seeing the before and after pics. I love a good project!

Mike

I recently bought an 1873 Ser #201866 in 22 short.  It needed the correct forend screws, an original rear sight and the inner magazine assembly repaired or replaced.

I fixed the forend screws with original screws.  I will buy a period correct rear sight.

The inner magazine will have to get a new assembly.  This is by far the most rare and hardest part to get.  Call it what you may but it will be a lot better than it was. 

martin rabeno said
No. It’s not a hypothetical question but a very complex one as many of you have answered.  My feelings are, if you are upfront and have or can squire the skills needed to restore a piece of history, why not? Art restorers do it every day. But it must be done right with all respect due to the item in your care.  Not to make it look new but let it once again look like it would have been for its  its apparent age and condition. At a certain point it’s not about the money but for respect for the object. How you do it and the cost is up to the individual. Some interesting examples of frauds and restorations are pictured in Lewis’s book. Everyone can make up their own moral decisions.
  

Great point Martin! While opinions on restoration vary, I think we all agree at a minimum disclosure is required. What is the name of the Lewis’s book you referenced? I would like to get it if I can find a copy. Thanks, Buck

Martin,  if you attend Cody, I would sure like to meet you.  I appreciate a man of moral character!  Going by memory here, which anyone will tell you can be off a bit, I think the title is “Winchester 1 of 1000s and 1 of 100s” by Edmund Lewis.  For years I tried keeping track of sales of either 1873’s or 1876’s to see when the questionable ones came to market, plus the known “good” ones.  When they got over about $400,000, I quit as I was NEVER going to afford one!!

I did have fun one year at an OGCA show when one was up for sale for a paltry $100,000 or so!  Once I convinced the owner I was not a buyer, he relaxed and took it out of the wood and glass case and he and I had a great time just talking and examining it.  So I CAN say I’ve handled one in detail.  Tim