Colts service ot FORD's refinishing???

[ap3572001]

Where would You send Your Colt? To Colt ? Or Fords Custom refinsihing?

[Kid Sopris]

Colt first if they will do the work. IF not then to Fords. UNLESS of course it's a 1st or 2nd gen. SAA, then on to Peacemaker Specialists.

[mrfrito]

Fords refinished a pre-18 Smith&Wesson for me a few years ago .They did a great job and I wouldnt hesitate on sending them any firearm that needed refinishing! Just dont be in any hurry to get it back !

[JudgeColt]

From what I have seen, neither does well enough to be trusted with anything other than a basket case of little value in the first place. Neither can apply an original finish for older Colts.

In almost every case, it is better to NOT refinish. A gun with considerable honest wear is always worth more than a refinished gun. A refinished basket case will be worth more to some, but the enhancement in value will usually not exceed the cost of the refinish, and sometimes will not even equal the refinish cost. Collectors will not be interested at all.

Everytime someone refinishes a Colt, Colts with their original finish become worth more. Do not destroy your value by refinishing.

[alster]

In my opinion if you have a shooter grade Colt, say a Woodsman 2nd series
with most of the blue worn, a few minor dings and scratches, if Colt did
the actual refinishing and you had the Colt letter for proof I doubt if
your gun would be devalued.

[ehsa]

long ago i had an 1895 webley refinished at fords.to my eye they did an excellent job and it is very pretty.there was enough original finish left on the gun to make it look very classy,yet i refinished it.even today i wonder should i have done it.i am still not sure but whats done is done and i am not unhappy with it but at the same time i realiaze the value is diminished.but i wont sell it anyway.so when you refinish be sure because you do destroy a piece of history in the removal of that hundred year old finish some long dead craftsman applied,if it happens to be like my old webley.

[rhmc24]

Old guns in good condition whether it has original finish or not, I don't refinish or restore. They got that way from fair wear and tear and abuse, some were owned by people who treated a gun as a tool or an implement.

OTOH I have restored, repaired, assembled guns from parts I collected. I did the work and polishing, then out-sourced for replacement of lettering and blue, usually to Turnbulls.

[CJS57]

If a gun is currently in a refinished state then I see no further harm from having another go at it. Presumedly with better results as the goal! But if never refinished ever it is best to leave it as is. Replacement of parts to the correct part is always ok. Refinishing a small part can sometimes be gotten away with, say a buggered grip screw or a barrel bushing, it can be very hard to detect this later if well done.

[keystonearms]

I thnk this thread has gotten off track. The Question raised was not about weather or not to have it refinished, his mind is already made up, it is in need. I would like to hear more opinions on the craftsmanship offered by each entity. Pictures?

[JudgeColt]

"The question is not whether to allow him to commit suicide, his mind is already made up. The question is whether he should shoot himself or hang himself. Don't get off track by trying to talk him out of it."

I did comment on the craftsmanship of each, and neither is that great.

(Major thread drift: I don't know about anywhere else, but our weather has been great here lately. Nearly 70 degees Monday. Who says Midwest winters are bad?)