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I am pretty new to the exclusivity of the Winchester game. I have been around guns all of my life with my dad, uncles, and grandfathers. But just in the last five years have I geared towards the winchester lever actions. My question is this, My income does not allow me to have a plethora of “fine” Winchesters. as a matter of fact anything I have in the nice category was a score of a deal. my best chance at having nices examples of these firearms will most likley include some restored pieces. when all of the really nice originals are locked away in private collections will the restored guns begin to gain value? Pretty much all of the original 57 Bel-airs have been found that doesnt stop someone from paying a 100g’s for a restored one. I read the article in gun digest about turnbull restoring a 1886 and it was like the author was reading my mind. But with Guns original is original and I understand that but does a restoration really devalue a gun that much? I know the answer, I guess I am just asking WHY is the gun market so much different than other collector markets. please offferany feedback all point of view angles accepted.
Patrick,
Right now restoring a lever gun caps its value and might go up a little when the original guns go up in value. Its completely controlled by what collectors want. If collectors want to pay more for restored and start to do so then the their value will. Its simply supply and demand that sets the price. The other thing you have to understand about restoration is it costs about the same to restore one model gun verses an other model gun just like a car. You will put the same amount of money in the restoration but when you get done you can’t sell it for what you got into it and you have to sell it for a loss. That is why its better to buy a car already restored rather than pay for the restoration yourself.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
patrick tompkins said
I am pretty new to the exclusivity of the Winchester game. I have been around guns all of my life with my dad, uncles, and grandfathers. But just in the last five years have I geared towards the winchester lever actions. My question is this, My income does not allow me to have a plethora of “fine” Winchesters. as a matter of fact anything I have in the nice category was a score of a deal. my best chance at having nices examples of these firearms will most likley include some restored pieces. when all of the really nice originals are locked away in private collections will the restored guns begin to gain value? Pretty much all of the original 57 Bel-airs have been found that doesnt stop someone from paying a 100g’s for a restored one. I read the article in gun digest about turnbull restoring a 1886 and it was like the author was reading my mind. But with Guns original is original and I understand that but does a restoration really devalue a gun that much? I know the answer, I guess I am just asking WHY is the gun market so much different than other collector markets. please offferany feedback all point of view angles accepted.
Patrick, I have collected old sports cars for years (mostly Corvettes) and more recently have gotten into Winchester lever action collecting and one of the first things I learned is that collecting Winchesters is very different from collecting cars, or even custom handmade knives for that matter. The finer examples of ‘correct’ classic car restorations and ‘correct’ original cars both enjoy strong markets and potential price appreciation, not so true with restored Winchesters.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
Bobs and Kevins comments are the true market value bottom line and exclusive collectors demand this
Myself I like nice cond originals best and treasure them ,
but also as I like to shoot, and also can admire good restorations
I have often jumped at the opportunity to acquire a beautifully restored gun with VG bore original uncut barrel (ones with well done restoration with original tight action low use ,are as close to a new period gun that you can get) for the same price as a bad bore beater with issues
To me much better than a new replica
I feel lucky that there is this option
Phil
I am fully aware of the fact that and original will always be the best and top of the food chain these are the facts and they are undisputed. but the fact that a restoration has no value or the value diminished to the point of being worth less than a poor example of the same firearm. Just I think they deserve a lil bit more appreciation is deserved than they get. I gues i am really saying a refinish and not a restore. With the parts out there today you can build a brand new gun out of a receiver, and that not what i am interested in. For the average person a Really nice 86 is a lil out of reach, and its Hard for me to look at a poor condition 92 or 94 that is all there just beat all to shit.
The real value on a restored Winchester is the fact that I can afford to own and enjoy, shooting and caring for, some fabulous firearms with my wife and granddaughter.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
Were no says restored is worthless or junk but they have a place in the collector community and do have a value if the gun was done by a good restoration outfit. Restored guns that were redone by people that didn’t know what their doing are at the bottom of the food chain since all the parts are now junk and can’t be restored again. On common guns or standard configuration are worth about what it cost to have it restored. I bought a restored 2nd model 73 for what it cost to have the work done at the time, $3500. The guy I bought it from lost his initial investment in the gun. I bought it since it was restored so nicely I wanted as a example to compare it to original guns. Deluxe grade guns will bring more money depending on the configuration.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
……… all the parts are now junk and can’t be restored again.
Bob
Parts can be stripped and restored again. Even rollmarks and antique finishing can be reapplied, as some first rate firms do today. It just takes money.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
Vince,
A gun restored by someone that does not know what he’s doing is were all the metal is taken down and has rounded corners. A bad restore are the guns were the guy wore out 3 buffing wheels on the gun and all the corners are now round and they seem to do the same on all the small parts too. If you tried bring the gun back you would end up with a pencil barrel extra light weight gun. The guns that were just cleaned a little and refinished, Yes those guns you can strip and redo.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Vince,
A gun restored by someone that does not know what he’s doing is were all the metal is taken down and has rounded corners. A bad restore are the guns were the guy wore out 3 buffing wheels on the gun and all the corners are now round and they seem to do the same on all the small parts too. If you tried bring the gun back you would end up with a pencil barrel extra light weight gun. The guns that were just cleaned a little and refinished, Yes those guns you can strip and redo.
Bob
You are right.
Maybe that’s where those miniature 94’s I saw on the forum a while ago came from.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
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