What are everyone's thoughts on restoring an aging pistol? I have two pistols that could be worth restoring but right now, neither is going to be restored. The first is a 1903 Colt made in 1905. It's completely original and has approximately 70% of the original bluing remaining. It shoots well for it's age and is completely functional.
The second pistol is a 1944 Colt 1911 with a Remington Rand slide. From what I can tell, all of the frame parts are correct for a Colt and all of the slide parts are correct for a Remington Rand. The barrel is pretty worn and the exterior finish on the gun is probably less than 5%. There is heavy pitting on the front of the slide and the whole gun has an old, almost wire brushed appearance. I've completely stripped the gun down and gently cleaned the parts, lubed and reassembled them. The original finish is still in good shape under the grips and inside the frame. There are marks on the rear of the frame from where the gun was either used as a hammer or someone used a hammer on the gun.
As for the 1903, I don't think that is a gun that should be restored. As nice as it would be once restored, there is enough of the original finish remaining to give the gun a patina of use and maintenance that is pretty darned good for a gun that's 108 years old.
My initial thoughts on the 1911 were to keep it as is, and I still might, but since this gun has little collector value as a mix-n-match gun, it could be a fun restoration project. I certainly do like the look of the gun currently and will probably have a fresh barrel fitted as well as freshen the springs too. I like the idea of having a good shooter that looks like it's been used for the last 70 years. But there is another part of me that looks at all of the well done restorations and thinks this gun is due for a new life restored.
What does everyone think in regards to the 1911? Is it sacrilege to wash away almost 70 years of use with restoration or is the old girl due for some new duds?
The second pistol is a 1944 Colt 1911 with a Remington Rand slide. From what I can tell, all of the frame parts are correct for a Colt and all of the slide parts are correct for a Remington Rand. The barrel is pretty worn and the exterior finish on the gun is probably less than 5%. There is heavy pitting on the front of the slide and the whole gun has an old, almost wire brushed appearance. I've completely stripped the gun down and gently cleaned the parts, lubed and reassembled them. The original finish is still in good shape under the grips and inside the frame. There are marks on the rear of the frame from where the gun was either used as a hammer or someone used a hammer on the gun.
As for the 1903, I don't think that is a gun that should be restored. As nice as it would be once restored, there is enough of the original finish remaining to give the gun a patina of use and maintenance that is pretty darned good for a gun that's 108 years old.
My initial thoughts on the 1911 were to keep it as is, and I still might, but since this gun has little collector value as a mix-n-match gun, it could be a fun restoration project. I certainly do like the look of the gun currently and will probably have a fresh barrel fitted as well as freshen the springs too. I like the idea of having a good shooter that looks like it's been used for the last 70 years. But there is another part of me that looks at all of the well done restorations and thinks this gun is due for a new life restored.
What does everyone think in regards to the 1911? Is it sacrilege to wash away almost 70 years of use with restoration or is the old girl due for some new duds?
I absolutely say leave the finish as is on the 1911. New barrel and the needed operational bits as needed to make it function as good or better than original. A rat rod of a gun if you will. Conserving some of the history and cool factor, while also having a nice shooter.
