Doug:
As a former IHC employee I want to tell you that's a beautiful example. The intent of my post wasn't to "put down" restorations but to show how thinking has changed over time. An example like mine(which would have been a 50s Corvette at that time) would have been routinely restored back to "as new" condition in the 70s or 80s even if it was still in decent original shape.
Current thinking, and you will see this if you watch the televised Mecum or Barrett Jackson auctions, is that "It can only be original once." and cars in the condition of my Corvette pictured above are now bringing premium prices. 20 to 30 years ago it would have been considered merely a used car in need of a total restoration. I don't personally have anything against restorations and there's plenty of room in this hobby to suit all tastes.
The problem to me is that like cars which have been restored to the point where they are trailer queens a firearm on which several thousand of dollars has been expended now becomes a safe queen. Too nice to drive and too nice to shoot! It's a pity to me that items that were made to be used and enjoyed now have to be handled with white gloves on.
If you look at other aspects of the firearms collecting hobby and, Lugers, Colt SAAs, etc. immediately come to mind; Any refinishing will immediately destroy the collector value of the piece. An example with even 60% of the original finish will bring more that the most profesionally restored example particularly if it is one of the rarer vriations.
Jim
