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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 696
Sidelock
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OP
Sidelock
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 696 |
The way I see it, there are two ways to look at it: Either a quality made, but plain, field grade gun makes a great blank canvas from which to start an upgrade, i.e., nice engraving, etc., or, it's putting a gold ring in a pig's snout.
Curious what the prevailing opinion here is between the two.
Imagination is everything. - Einstein
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
'pends on whether you picked a good piece of canvas or a pig...and how well it's work on the upgrade was done....IMO.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,026 |
I think even a plain-jane bottom-of-the-line gun that's in very high condition should be kept as is--as they used to say about land--they're not making any more. I'd say that about a Nitro Special or Win 24, not to mention an NID or a Field Grade Elsie. Anything else--it's a free country. Just do your homework and make sure that the "grade" is actually "up"!
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,231
Member
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Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,231 |
In the 1960s and flush with some disposable income for the first time, I sent a pair of early A grade Fox guns to Savage for upgrading to Fox D grade wood, extra barrels, and metal refinishing. They were beautiful, but a few years later, they had gone the way many of my doubles have gone.
As I reflect on this pair - a 16 and a 12 - the wood was almost overpowering. Roe Clark had done his best in its selection and fitting. I don't think I'd do it the same way again. Today, and with a field grade L.C. Smith, for instance, I think I'd be inclined to specify a little bit better grade wood, but leave the checkering in the field grade configuration and let it go at that.
I don't think there's any real right or wrong answer here, but now I wouldn't want to get too far out of wack with how the gun was originally constructed. Might fudge a bit on wood quality, as you've seen, but thats it.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 329
Member
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Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 329 |
I upgraded a Fox SW pin gun. A new stock of English Walnut and engraveing by the guy that did the first Fox for Galazan. If the work is quality and you like it I don't see anything wrong with an upgrade. A friend was telling me that taking my SKB Model 150 and restocking it and taking the blueing off and case coloring the reciever was putting spats on a pig. When he saw the finished work he wanted to buy it. Go figure
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 87
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 87 |
Another consideration--I am having an 00 grade elsie upgraded. Someone tried an upgrade previously and the case colors were wrong. I decided to get it corrected by having it engraved by a first class engraver. Maybe he will post pictures when he completes the work.
Tom McDevitt
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250 |
Saving one from the scrap heap is a good thing. ...but other than that, its nice to have those old things around.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 13,880 Likes: 16 |
There's always those "in between" condition guns that are still shootable but look like crap, shortened, cracked or broken stocks, rusty, etc. I'm all for restoring or upgrading these guns.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,090 Likes: 36
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,090 Likes: 36 |
JMO but the only reason to upgrade a gun is if an original high grade is so rare as to preclude buying one, i.e. Sousa Specials, Optimus, $1000 grades, those Parkers that tthere's only 3 of , whatever they are.
Otherwise it seems like it would be cheaper to but a high grade original than to redo a field grade's wood, metal, engraving, polishing internals, inlays, etc.
Just me but I'd have more pride of ownership in a good origianl condition field grade than an upgraded gun.
Then again I prefer natural 32's to silicone 38's.
My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income. - Errol Flynn
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,757 Likes: 748
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,757 Likes: 748 |
I've never upgraded a project gun significantly. Reblue, restock (only once, to fit me, and maybe a nicer piece of wood, but, nothing out of line) recut checkering, new pad, etc. More along the lines of maintenance to mechanics and finsh. Might just be me, but, I like the way a low grade gun looks when it's all cleaned up. And, I suppose, I'm cheap. Best, Ted
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