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tom · 09-06-2001, 08:43 AM

Hi Sam,

First, hope to see you at MAX.

Second, to address your question, in my experience, restoration of metal finish on a collector-quality piece will generally DETRACT from collector value, unless, of course, it is undetectable. Thats why I use a loupe on the pieces I buy; I want to know if that finish is Amerikanishe Waffen Fabrik!

Replacement of crappy grips with nicer contemporary un-numbered grips should add value, as the replacement would be exactly what a unit armorer would do and the un-numbered grips would be what he would use.

Likewise, replacement of a mismatched part with an un-numbered original replacement would add value or at least be value neutral for the same reason cited with grips.

Cleaning the bore bright and shiney is just good maintenance and should have no value impact except that if the bore was very dirty, someone might grouse about it and try to knock your asking price down.

A tip to tell if the finish is original: Take a Q-tip and dab just a touch of Semi-chrome on it, then swab the exterior surfaces in several places. On an original finish, you should get traces of microscoptic oxidation-rust-on the Q-tip. A fifty plus year old finish, no matter how well maintained, is going to have some oxidation.

My 2 cents.

Tom Armstrong

09-06-2001, 08:43 AM	#4
tom User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 269 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Restoration Hi Sam, First, hope to see you at MAX. Second, to address your question, in my experience, restoration of metal finish on a collector-quality piece will generally DETRACT from collector value, unless, of course, it is undetectable. Thats why I use a loupe on the pieces I buy; I want to know if that finish is Amerikanishe Waffen Fabrik! Replacement of crappy grips with nicer contemporary un-numbered grips should add value, as the replacement would be exactly what a unit armorer would do and the un-numbered grips would be what he would use. Likewise, replacement of a mismatched part with an un-numbered original replacement would add value or at least be value neutral for the same reason cited with grips. Cleaning the bore bright and shiney is just good maintenance and should have no value impact except that if the bore was very dirty, someone might grouse about it and try to knock your asking price down. A tip to tell if the finish is original: Take a Q-tip and dab just a touch of Semi-chrome on it, then swab the exterior surfaces in several places. On an original finish, you should get traces of microscoptic oxidation-rust-on the Q-tip. A fifty plus year old finish, no matter how well maintained, is going to have some oxidation. My 2 cents. Tom Armstrong