Some of the most worthwhile advice I've ever read. Thanks, folks.
I've gone through the restoring thing twice now with good fly rods - a prewar Payne and, still at the craftsman, a very early Heddon #13. It's a pain in the ass. I'm not underwater on the Payne but I'm way under on the Heddon. The only reason I sent it out was the brook trout decal - exceptionally rare and 100%. And I've got my Trojan out for needed work - prior owner hot-blued the barrels and the top rib sprang.
Lately, I've been going back and forth on a 12 ga DH. If I could beat the seller down another couple hundred (he paid too much on his buy) I might go for it, assuming the barrels measure out as safe. It's a rattler, will need a total re-do and, frankly, I don't need another 12 ga. Hell, I don't need any more shotguns. But the damn thing speaks to me, and that's dangerous to my wallet. When it talks it's both fear that someone will part it out or something and "hey - I'm a DH and you really want one and both you and I know it".
I'd love to be able to do my own work on guns. But work says I don't have the time to do it, don't have the time to learn how to do it, and probably don't have the talent. So that means I keep professionals in business or don't do it at all. And the fear of the pricetag for that work might be the only thing keeping me in check.
Last edited by Dave in Maine; 04/30/15 11:07 PM.
