Let me preface this by saying I know this is a triple post, but I wanted to get some traffic on it and see where everyone stands.
Last month my grandpa died, and with his passing, I inherited his shotgun, a 1953 16gau Remington Sportsman 48. My grandpa hunted this gun every season since he bought it new, and it looks the part. I can't be certain, but I think that when I cleaned it a few years ago, it was the first cleaning this gun has had. On a good day, this is a $200 dollar gun, so my desire to bring this gun back isn't financially driven. I am debating whether or not to strip the gun down, have all the metal re-blued, and repair and refurbish the stock. A large part of me says no, keep it like it is because he earned every ding, gouge and dent in the gun, and in the condition it is in, its his gun. I was dead set on leaving it like it is, until my uncle posed this counterpoint. If he left me a 53 Corvette in the same condition, would I restore it. Yes is the only answer to that question. So, it is up to DHC to sway my opinion. Leave it like it is, all beat to hell, but still runs like a champ (and a blast to shoot) or make it look like the day he bought it. I would be doing the stock and front grip myself, but farming the receiver and barrel out to someone who could do the job right. I am re-finishing an 870 stock and grip right now as a sort of proof of concept for myself to see if I am able to do the sort of job I would like to see on the gun, and to find any kinks I may run into along the way.
Last month my grandpa died, and with his passing, I inherited his shotgun, a 1953 16gau Remington Sportsman 48. My grandpa hunted this gun every season since he bought it new, and it looks the part. I can't be certain, but I think that when I cleaned it a few years ago, it was the first cleaning this gun has had. On a good day, this is a $200 dollar gun, so my desire to bring this gun back isn't financially driven. I am debating whether or not to strip the gun down, have all the metal re-blued, and repair and refurbish the stock. A large part of me says no, keep it like it is because he earned every ding, gouge and dent in the gun, and in the condition it is in, its his gun. I was dead set on leaving it like it is, until my uncle posed this counterpoint. If he left me a 53 Corvette in the same condition, would I restore it. Yes is the only answer to that question. So, it is up to DHC to sway my opinion. Leave it like it is, all beat to hell, but still runs like a champ (and a blast to shoot) or make it look like the day he bought it. I would be doing the stock and front grip myself, but farming the receiver and barrel out to someone who could do the job right. I am re-finishing an 870 stock and grip right now as a sort of proof of concept for myself to see if I am able to do the sort of job I would like to see on the gun, and to find any kinks I may run into along the way.