Originally Posted by
draftsmann
The general theme of my collection is "the guns I wanted but couldn't afford in my teens", in the golden age of airguns that was the early-mid 1980s. With a few '70s classics thrown in, and a few more recent things (but if newer it has to be really special).
I have a few items that are well-used, with tatty stocks, mostly springers like an FWB, couple of Airsporters, Original 35, 45, 50, Anschutz 335, etc.
What is the thinking in these parts on refinishing stocks (with proper hand-rubbed oil finish, even where the factory finish was varnish) on this sort of thing? I don't mean how to do it, I mean from the collectibility point of view. I must say here and now that I don't plan on selling any of these items this side of my death, but would it be considered anathema, for example, to spruce up my very tatty Airsporter Centenary stock?
Taking it one step further, and given that the 80s were the start and arguably heyday of the "custom air rifle" thing, would it be a crime to add a nice contrasting wood butt spacer, grip cap or forend-tips to a bog-standard stock? Take as read that the work will be done to a professional standard, of course.
I'd be interested to know the thoughts of others.
Cheers
Adrian