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To restore or not to restore ...

dbrigham
I have a dandy little Winchester 61, which I bought a few months ago. It was manufactured in 1943, but it's not really a collectable because sometime in its past someone tapped the left side of the receiver to install a side-mounted scope. The scope's long gone and whoever did the work did a neat job of integrating the three screws, but still, it's not original. It has some pitting and some small scratches and I'm tempted to have it professionally reblued. Opinions, please ... Thanks!
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7 comments

Date Votes
  • bobski
    i say no. leave it alone. besides, have you checked the bore? most people forget that point. you can have a prettied up gun with a worthless bore if you overlook it. then not only is it restored, but its worn out. i say stay ahead of the game. leave it original with the 2 holes in it. youll get more interest than a gun with 2 holes and restored.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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  • hslaterpryce
    As you say in your post "...its not really a collectible.." so IMHO I say refinish it and make it like you want it and shoot it - it will be, as it always has been, a great little shooter - good for the younger set (children, if you got 'em) too.
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  • He Dog
    If you want to sell it, leave it as is with a really good clean and lub. If you are keeping it for your self, do what you want, but check the bore and its shooting ability first.

    He Dog
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  • woodshermit
    I don't have a 61 (yet)and I don't know where the serial #s are, but, could you try to find a receiver in good shape and just replace that part.? I've seen a couple of 61s lately with scope mount holes and it is a definite turnoff for me. On the other hand, even pretty junky 61s are going for $400 and up. Based on my experience recently at auctions, a professional refinishing job on a Winchester doesn't hurt the value as much as some of the "experts" say it does. Do whatever makes you happy with this particular rifle; if you bought it right and the bore is decent you will never lose money on it.
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  • Contender Man
    Check the auctions for awhile. See what originals scope modified and not modified are selling for. Also, if any are listed what refinished or restored (it's all in the word) ones are selling for. Find out your "restoration" costs and then do the math to see which way the greater potential for profit lies.

    Me, unless there are mechanical problems or they are are real mess, I shoot 'em for a while then decide to keep or sell/trade.


    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • bigcountry_75214
    I'd leave it like it is unless it is just one big pit and rust bucket. Even one's in 10% show to be worth about $150+. If it's been re-blued its worth very little to anyone except as a shooter. Just my 2 cents.[:)]
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  • only winchesters
    Going by what you have said, "it's not really a collectable", it your money and your gun. Restoring and reblueing are two different things. A lot of gunsmiths can machine polish and re-hotblue the gun. Most likey starting around a $100 and up. Winchester used two main blueing methods, they rust blued barrels and hot blued receivers during the time your gun was built. A good Winchester gunsmith will charge you a lot of money to do they "restoration" correctly. Pits are active and will continue to grow, depending how deep they are now, and where they are located, they may not be able to be polished out. Think of it as restoring an old car, new paint and a rebuilt engine, does not mean the car has been restored. Restoring means complete dissassembly, replace, or rebuild worn parts, reblued to factory specs, and reassembled.

    A good gunsmith can weld fill those extra holes and and after blueing you may not even notice them. Some things I would ask a gunsmith, does he machine polish, or does he use a draw file, (pitted area) and then hand polish the all the metal before blue. Does he use soap stone in all the stampings, ( soap stone is used to fill the stampings and markings before polishing to leave all the lettering and serial numbers looking sharp and clear).

    Long story short cheap blue job, wont be worth the money you spend. To do it right you would most likely be looking at $350 and up for the metal work only. So with all that, if you want more detail, or names of good Winchester gunsmiths just shoot me an email. Regards Dave
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