I can`t afford a custom built rifle and if it`s just a case of who can have the most expensive toys compaired to who can`t maybe I should just find another forum. I do find your reply a bit offensive Sir. As far as being addicted to this sport i`ll bet a dollar i`ve been around blackpowder/modern firearms, rifles and pistols as long or probably longer than most have. I also know what it cost for gunsmiths as i`ve done quite a lot of that too and have had a lot work done on my guns. Is it all about who has what or is all about getting together with friends and family that enjoy having a good time together. My comment only meant that I see no use in restoring a factory rifle so please keep all snooty comments out of my post please, i`m hear to learn about this stuff and enjoy the finer people that love to do this.
Burch
We are trying to point out that its not cost effective to have someone professionally restore a gun that will worth little more than they cost new not matter what. People in a perhaps contorted way were trying to save you money.
When you ask "how do they justify the expense" do you mean the restorer or the owner? It can be read 2 ways.
I get irritated since average ML people are NOTORIOUS for wanting work done for nothing. A good gunsmith should get 50 bucks an hour for shop time. But people want a weeks work for 50 bucks.
People I know used to do FANTASTIC work but got paid workmans wages for high quality carving and engraving on beautifully shaped and styled rifles.
So try looking at it from someone else's point of view. I could care less if you have and shoot a TC or a GPR, go for it. But restoring something of this sort is a waste of YOUR money.
Yes good guns are expensive. But they DON'T depreciate. Unless abused they go up in value so the cost long term is not so horrid as everyone thinks.
Guns that went for 900-1000 or less in the 1970s now can bring 5000 or more. People who bought TCs and such at the same time lost money.
I am lucky I can make guns I can't afford to buy.
If you want the wood refinished buy some Chambers oil and wet sand with it using 400 grit wet or dry. Cut the oil with pure turpentine. Unless its got thick plastic or Tru-Oil on it this will remove the old finish and create new all at once. I have only stripped one firearm in my life and it was a modern SS with a thick coat of plastic on it.
I would leave the metal alone or polish it and have the steel blued at some gunshop that does bluing if you do not want to do it your self. If you do ask here you will get good answers on all sorts of finishes that you can do at home.
I would also point out that some of us having been in the game for a long time get our backs up when we see "TC" anything. Its baggage from the distant past now but I have enough Scot in me to have a long memory.
Finally it is very easy to sound snooty or be misinterpreted in type when saying the same thing in person would be a simple statement of fact. Has to do with the printed word vs spoken language.
Dan
