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Valuation of refinished rifles

pdog72
As a fairly new collector of Winchester rifles, I am having a hard time figuring value and condition of rifles which are refinished, and/or re-blued. Can anyone give any insight into how much to deduct for refinished guns. I realize they will all be different, but can a guy just assume 25%, or maybe even 50% less??
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7 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Without quality photos it quite difficult to answer your question. There is a whole spectrum of refinishing and refinishers. From a competent Gunsmith who knows what he's doing, to some backyard bubba who uses a belt sander to prep the metal. Also the age and rarity/value of the rifle is a great factor in the equation. You get something old enough and valuable enough even if decently refinished it would have substantial collector value.
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  • Bert H.
    The minimum deduction for a refinished (reblued) Pre-64 Winchester is 50%, and it increases rapidly from there dependiing upon the level of expertise of the person who refinished it. In some cases, the reblue can reduce the value by as much as 80%.
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  • pdog72
    So would you say re-bluing is much more critical than a wood re-finish? In regard to models, I am speaking mostly of the early slides and a few levers I have. 1890s, 1906, 1892s, 1894s and a 55. They are not all refinished, but a few of them obviously are. They look like they were very well done. I appreciate the quick replys and got a chuckle out of the "backyard bubba" reference.
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  • kimi
    You can probably check the auction side and get a good feel for what refinished Winchesters are going for right now on auction here at GB. The two examples shown at the below links will give you and idea as to what a blued and a case colored 1890 might bring on the market. You can get an even better idea as to what percent these rifles might bring when compared with the Blue Book of Gun Values. The Third Model 1890 shows a 98% value of $3000 dollars, and the 2nd Model Case Colored shows $8000 for the same condition. Using these figures and the current bids as shown you'll be able to figure what percent a refinished piece might sell for on the market. You should be able to use this method to figure what the other models you have would sell for too.


    Refinished 1890
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=155096901

    Refinshed Case Colored 1890
    http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=156098826
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  • the yooper
    Unless you look at what guns SELL for, checking the auction won't do much for you. Many guns have high ASKING prices and are on the site for many months with no bids or, at least, no sales. There's a lot of difference between what a seller asks and what a gun is worth. Just my $.02
    yooper
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  • kimi
    quote:Originally posted by the yooper
    Unless you look at what guns SELL for, checking the auction won't do much for you. Many guns have high ASKING prices and are on the site for many months with no bids or, at least, no sales. There's a lot of difference between what a seller asks and what a gun is worth. Just my $.02
    yooper


    That's very true, which is why running a check on completed auctions would be a big help since a great many refinished pieces do sell here on GB, and this information is available to give any interested party an even "better idea" as to what they actually sell for.
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  • pdog72
    Thanks again, everyone. Very good advice.
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