doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ballistix999 Ramblings on Restoration - Long Post

"Refinished" as a term fell into bad use because of the hackers out there. I remember when the word was derogatory enough to knock significant dollars off selling price. Restored came to connotate "well-done." I still flinch at the former...Steve

Yes, that's what I'm coming around to as well. OWD point taken but I don't agree with your terminology either I'm afraid. Look at it this way also. If I've just had to have my new Purdey project restocked because it was broken in the hand surely it's being restored? Not re-finished!

T

Tony: David Trevallion told me aways back that you are the type person Purdey looks for to apprentice with them. I wholly believe he is right in this sentiment and I believe you are an exceptional person in terms of the restoration of these fine English guns. Your quest for knowledge is apparent and I am certain you could have been a fine gunmaker had you been given that opportunity. Take care, Buzz

My $.02...

Restored = bringing back a marginally or unserviceable gun to "as original".

Refinished = all original mechanicals and wood "refinished" to "fresh" but not necessarily "as original" condition; e.g. an oil finsh on a stock take was originally lacquer.

Freshened = all original mechanicals, thorough cleaning and addressing of issues; e.g. putting a gun back on face, cleaning/oiling the stock.

I know this leaves a lot to interpretation and others may not agree. Perhaps a standard definition of each term should be developed similar to the NRA condition standard. Still subjective but maybe it at least would help with the major items such as rebluing, restocking, etc.

Tony,

Thanks again for the time you take to share your thoughts and show your projects. Hope your boy can rock back on his easy chair way down the road and reread them while he looks over one of these guns.

Seems like you only had one dislike. I think you've shown it's ok to disagree without being disagreeable, so don't let the little things dampen your enthusiasm.

Always interesting to see what Ballistix999 is up to, Craig

Thanks a lot guys. Buzz, I feel a little strange having someone of David's reputation saying something like that about me. I couldn't possibly do the compliment the justice it would deserve of course. But it does make me feel extremely proud of what I do and I will try and just get better at it...in my slow and rather awkward way.

T

Tony, omce again you have proved that you are a person who should be working on these guns because you care for them. People that stop by my house and look at my guns collection can't seem to see what I see. The labor of love that people put in these guns to make them this nice. Yes, they were paid BUT you can't work for these gun shops for 25-40 years or more and think it's only a job. Work is not work when you love what you are doing. Keep up the great work. You must be in love with it. Frank

Tony,

I have three rifles in my collection that were built by my father. These are my most cherished possesions. One of which is a small, scaled down .22 single shot bolt action rifle. It was my present from Santa Claus when I was six years old. I had it re-blued and I refinished the stock a few years ago and placed it under the tree on Christmas Eve of 2009 for my son's six Christmas. He knew the story behind the gun and he cherishes it as much as I did. I'm sure your son will be very proud. Hopefully you can share an afternoon afield with him shooting one of your great projects.

Except for the rare pristine or collector grade examples, most guns are not in the 'original' condition they were in when they left the workshop 120 odd years ago. Wood shrinks, checkering becomes worn, screw are buggered, barrels get pits, are honed, etc.

Refinishing or restoring to a condition that serves or pleases the owner, is alone his prerogative. That includes sleeving a gun with marginal barrels so it can return to full use.

Gits and funsmashers be damned.


Carry on

Jim

Tony, a little over a year ago I started corresponding with you, initially about a certain gun. Actually, it seems like it was perpetually about a certain gun!

Anyway, I remember telling you that what knocked me out about the guns you worked on was the fact that you never overstepped a certain aesthetic; your intuition gave you the feel to know what to do and when to stop. To this very day I have not seen one instance when that has not been the case.

You are still on that road and have never strayed. I don't think you could.

If I can see it, if all the other members of this board can see it, you best believe that your own flesh and blood will see it, will KNOW it.

It's a great and wonderful thing to be proud of your dad. It's a forever kind of thing.

As always, Whole Lotta Love - Marc