Quote:
At some point, a gun is trashed enough that there is no sense in trying to "preserve" it or "be faithful" to what it was.


I found a Model 1912 Tournament Grade with straight grip and solid rib for $150. It was a beater, but shootable. I put about $1400 into it in parts and professional labor, and I now have the best looking Tournament Grade 1912 I've ever seen. Of course, it's not original and I probably won't get my money out in this lifetime, but who cares? Old guns are like old cars. You are generally much better off buying one that someone else has dumped a pile of money into.