To refinish or not refinish.....1911?

[Who dat]

I have a original Colt 1911 (not A1) that has been passed down in the family. I never shot it and it appears to function fine. The finish is all but gone and has surface rust - no pitting. I will never sell it and was tossing around the idea of refinishing it. What are y'alls opinions on refinishing? I will refinish it historically correct. Any recommendations on a gunsmith? Will this tank the value of the piece? Thanks in advance.

 

[lsu fan]

I wouldn't, I'd clean it as best I could, and leave it in it's original condition.

 

[Quickdraw22]

Will this tank the value of the piece?

Yes. A gun with no finish is worth less than a gun with a re-finish (usually).

 

[USMC-Deano]

Since you say you're never going to sell it, I'd refinish it. If you were to sell it, I'd find out what it's worth now, how much it would cost to refinish, then how much it would be worth refinished and decide from there. But, as a strict family keepsake, make it shine.

 

[Gus McCrae]

Where are the pics!?!?!?!??!?!?!?

 

[biggin215]

I'd say don't refinish it.... leave it all original.

 

[robbynola]

1

 

[robbynola]

1

 

[4x4demon]

The guys on Pawn Stars say that refinishing it takes all the value away from the gun.

 

[Gus McCrae]

Refinish it in duracoat, install novak sights, install a beavertail safety, add porting.







or just clean it really good, oil it and call it good.

 

[MyTFAL]

My personal rule on re-finishing guns....." Never re-finish a gun, unless it's a worthless piece of crap, or you want it to be one. "

Any gun that has any collectability to it, is worth drastically more in it's original condition

 

[biggin215]

Refinish it in duracoat, install novak sights, install a beavertail safety, add porting.







or just clean it really good, oil it and call it good.

notthisnotthisnotthisnotthis


Just take care of it, leave it how it is. Don't you dare go anywhere near that piece of work with steel wool. DON'T YOU DARE.

 

[DuckYou]

have it evaluated and valued by a colt 1911 expert. It may be worth more as a refinished shooter because it will probably never be a collector if it has no rust.

 

[ShipWreck]

My personal rule on re-finishing guns....." Never re-finish a gun, unless it's a worthless piece of crap, or you want it to be one. "

Any gun that has any collectability to it, is worth drastically more in it's original condition

Yes.

I have refinished current production guns. But one something like that - IF it is worth something because of the age, you will kill that off with a refinish

 

[Guate_shooter]

You can also contact COLT and have them apply a factory finish on the weapon, this way eventhough it was "re-done" it was done at factory

 

[SGT_Kramer]

light coat of oil with soft cloth in and out and call it good

 

[dwr461]

Without seeing how much rust there is and how much damage been done. No one has any idea if from the financial perspective which the right thing to do. Yes Colt can if the rust isn't too bad put a factory original blue on the weapon. They used to mark as a refinish. But I cannot honestly give you any accurate advice without more knowledge. No one else can either.

Dave

 

[Nomad.2nd]

Yes. A gun with no finish is worth less than a gun with a re-finish (usually).

WTF ARE YOU SMOKING!!!!???


PUT THE CRACKPIPE DOWN!!!!


I take it you tell people to sand and stain antiques?

DON"T TOUCH THAT GUN!

 

[Beeramid]

I personally would not, it will kill any collector value that it has. Yes I know you said you'd never sale it, leave as is and enjoy it for what it is. That's how you got it, I'm sure the person before you got it in similar condition, why change it now.

 

[DStewart]

I personally would not, it will kill any collector value that it has. Yes I know you said you'd never sale it, leave as is and enjoy it for what it is. That's how you got it, I'm sure the person before you got it in similar condition, why change it now.

Hit the nail on the head.