I am sometimes asked if a firearm should be restored but most of the time a client will already know what they want by the time they actually bring an old gun in for a restoration.
Other times a client will have a newly acquired firearm that they are not quite sure what to do with and they need to look to a professional for advice so if this is you here is some advice!
1. Inspirational.
If this piece is something that when you look at you can’t help but imagine what the original owners experiences were with it you may want to see it restored to its original glory. The gun that won the west, a gallery gun that may have seen action at one of many street fairs or an old revolver that some cowboy may have carried.
2. A Family Heirloom.
An old gun passed down through generations is truly a treasure. Traditions, memories and history are all tied to it. This is an exceptional candidate to be restored.
3. A great shooter.
Sometimes you find a gun that fits like a glove and you get immense joy from shooting. Sometimes these guns can suffer from poor storage conditions or other things like natural disaster, etc. When the damage is repairable, this would make a good candidate for a restoration.
Other times it may not be a good idea to restore. An all original 19th century firearm in mint condition is not a candidate for a restoration but let’s be serious, these guns have long been taken out of general circulation and have been purchased for collections. Historically Significant guns are usually not to be restored. And of course, you must always decide if the cost of a restoration on any gun is in your budget. A conservation can be a more economical approach. The idea is to stop any state of decay immediately and take steps to protect your firearm without all of the pain staking and labor intensive efforts to achieve factory new or better than new. Either way, most old guns should be cared for and respected whatever category they may fit into.