Chuck said
Ever since the movie industry started doing this sawed off shotguns have become collectable to some point.  Then when Cowboy Action Shooting took off so did the sawed off shotguns.   I used to look for early turn of the century hammer guns that had been cut down.  I could easily make a profit on these.  I still have one in my safe.  I guess the TV cowboy is still in me.  

I shouldn’t be surprised that these have become so desirable.  It’s a nostalgic/emotional appeal.  That counts for a lot in collecting.  I can’t argue with collecting what you like.  Heck, look at me, I like .32 specials, .33 WCF’s and shotgun butts!  While I’m in confession mode, I have more round barreled Winchesters than octagon barreled. 

Still, it bugs me that original shotguns are desecrated for this purpose.  

Bill Hanzel said
Hopefully this comes across the right way (it does not reflect the way I think or act)but… when somebody finds a way to make a buck, they aren’t looking at anything but the money to be made, and if it means ruining something someone finds to be more valuable in its original state,so be it……..  

Bill – this is an interesting topic with many prongs.  As an example, we see a lot of vintage rifles that were modified long ago by their owners.  I’m talking about modifications made to make the rifles more suitable for what they were intended.  Drill and tap holes to add a receiver sight or scope, swivel holes to add a sling, or maybe a M1894 with a 26 inch barrel that was shortened to make it more manageable to carry and maneuver in the woods all day.  I have memories at gunshows, where I’ve watched dealers and collectors look over a modified piece.  On many occasions, I’ve heard a comment to the effect, “I hope there’s a special place in hell for the dumb-asses who do these things.”  Well… good grief.  These past owners purchased these pieces to hunt with.  That they would modify them to best suit that purpose is not, in my opinion, deserving of any spot in hell.

I have another example that gets at a different angle.  I knew a gunshop owner who specialized in vintage and antique firearms.  He was the proverbial scrooge.  He was very (very) focused on making a buck.  One day, a customer wondered into his shop and was taken with a very nice (all original) M1892 .44-40 SRC.  The shop owner had it marked way up – probably 200 to 300% of what he had in it.  The customer was not deterred by price.

The deal was progressing nicely but just before it was clinched, the customer mentioned he would be having the carbine rechambered to .44 magnum.  I was amazed to watch the shop owner (for whom I had never witnessed having any scruples about anything) grab that carbine out of the customer’s hands and tersely tell him there was no amount of money that would prompt him to see it to him. 

I chatted briefly with the shop owner about his thoughts on the matter.  He pointed out that there is a finite amount of these vintage original pieces, they’re not making any more, and he felt a strong obligation to help preserve them.   He saw no need for this very nice Winchester to be turned into a .44 magnum when there were plenty of Winchester and Marlin lever rifles to be had in that chambering.  He just saw no excuse for it. 

I have also seen gunsmiths talk customers out of requested modifications to collectible firearms.  Generally, they are successful doing this as often the firearm has greater monetary value as a collector item than the owner was aware.  However, I have seen examples where when the customer wanted to proceed anyway, the gunsmith has refused.  Their attitude is something to the effect, “yes, you own that rifle and can do what you want to it, but that doesn’t mean I have to do it.”  Were I a gunsmith, I think I’d have a hard time drilling scope mount holes into the receiver of a nice vintage collectible rifle. 

There’s a lot of variations of this and as many perspectives.  I find it a thought provoking topic and am interesting in what other’s think.   

clarence said

Good grief, man, you’re not equating owner-mods done at the time the gun was in use with what that greedy SOB on GB is doing?  No comparison WHATEVER!

In my experience with gunsmiths, which started when I was still in Jr. High & getting around on my Cushman scooter, I haven’t run across many who’d turn down the money to be made from a reblue job out of respect for a gun’s originality.  I’m talking about the neighborhood gun-butcher, not the ones building custom rifles & doing other premium quality gun work.   

Clarence – I wasn’t equating them at all.  Rather, I picked two examples of what I considered far ends of the spectrum.

And yeah, the neighborhood gun butcher… not only would they be willing to, say reblue a nice collectible, they’d talk the owner of the rifle into it!