November 7, 2015

I think the best candidates for restoration are guns that have been abused, badly damaged or “restored” by someone who really mucked the job up. Then I’ll ask myself if I want to look at it for the foreseeable future because it’s unlikely I’ll ever get my investment out of it. I also won’t risk taking it to the range or on a hunting trip because any damage would severely impact any remaining value. I really like DT’s work and someday I’ll find a gun for him to work his magic on.
Blueliner said
Does anyone have a comment on the $12,000 invoice shown previously as being close to a realistic cost for a restoration today ?Seems awfully high to me. Maybe I’m just extremely naive to the reality.
Bill
I had the same reaction but didn’t say anything. My wife says I get sticker shock very easily. You should see me buying a bottle of water in an airport! Anyway, $2350 just for a buttstock? I suppose you shouldn’t approach something like this from the perspective of getting your money back out of it. You pay your money to get what you want.
You have to subtract $2875 for the gun itself so now your down to $9125 for the restore and that was in 2008, think what he gets now. Now when Roger was doing restores it was around $1000-1500 just to get a stock made out of figures wood not including checkering. A barrel was around $1000. The gun I bought that was restored by Rogers was just a Blued plain wood gun and I figured it was $3500 worth of work for new barrel, tube and wood.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
I agree with you on that. If your going to sink that amount of money in a TB gun you can buy something with nice blue or even case that will go up in value instead of sideways.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 7, 2015

Met a wealthy rancher a few weeks ago who was planning to send a beat-up Winchester to DT for a facelift…then he was going to use it for a truck gun. Must be nice, I guess.
steve004 said
That’s a great story!
Love that story. I’m on the younger side of this crowd, would love to meet someone like that in person. I met a guy one day from brownwood texas cut me a deal on a ratty 92 just because I had been dying for one and low income at the time. He was a lot of fun and had some info to offer. Never saw him around again… most of the guys at the shows are grumpy and don’t wanna talk assuming I know nothing or not a buyer. Bah….
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