New on the Saleroom auction site

[Garvin]

Sold this Certus for £600 at a Kempton Park meet.

Baz

[IMG][/IMG]

I was offered this pistol some years ago Baz IIRC for more than £600 but I passed on it because I can't get on with refinished guns. I don't really regret it now, much though I would like a Certus. Has anyone successfully distressed a refinished gun so the finish looked good but original?

[ccdjg]

I was offered this pistol some years ago Baz IIRC for more than £600 but I passed on it because I can't get on with refinished guns. I don't really regret it now, much though I would like a Certus. Has anyone successfully distressed a refinished gun so the finish looked good but original?

About 10 years ago I worked on a hot bluing recipe that would reproduce the pre-war 'blue' found on most pistols - especially Webleys- which is slightly greyer and bluer than the usual postwar deep ebony black. When I was happy with the result I reblued a straight grip Webley Mark 1, which had lost virtually all of its original finish, but amazingly had no pitting and still had crisp lettering. I then distressed it to match a similar Mark 1 which had all its original blue. Here are the two together. I did not keep a record of the serial numbers, and after ten years I genuinely do not know which is which. So although one can be critical about refinishing vintage guns, it does not always have to be aesthetically annoying.

[Garvin]

About 10 years ago I worked on a hot bluing recipe that would reproduce the pre-war 'blue' found on most pistols - especially Webleys- which is slightly greyer and bluer than the usual postwar deep ebony black. When I was happy with the result I reblued a straight grip Webley Mark 1, which had lost virtually all of its original finish, but amazingly had no pitting and still had crisp lettering. I then distressed it to match a similar Mark 1 which had all its original blue. Here are the two together. I did not keep a record of the serial numbers, and after ten years I genuinely do not know which is which. So although one can be critical about refinishing vintage guns, it does not always have to be aesthetically annoying.

Thanks John, that's excellent. But examining my reaction, I note that it only helps a little bit! It really matters that it's not original. I think it's knowing that the original finish has disappeared forever, and with the certainty that what you're looking a has a direct connection with the factory that made it. Never mind that the surface finish is just .000001% of the total mass!

[ccdjg]

Thanks John, that's excellent. But examining my reaction, I note that it only helps a little bit! It really matters that it's not original. I think it's knowing that the original finish has disappeared forever, and with the certainty that what you're looking a has a direct connection with the factory that made it. Never mind that the surface finish is just .000001% of the total mass!

I can appreciate that viewpoint Danny, but it only holds for me if an item is particularly rare or unique, and that there is a case for all of its features, such as natural wear and tear, later repairs etc. to be preserved as part of its story. However, when one has several examples of the same thing, something that is readily available on the open market, and one of them happens to be an eyesore due to unnatural circumstances, then sympathetic restoration of the eyesore can only be for the better.

Its the old much discussed chestnut, is a damaged Rembrandt or a rusting classic car best left alone or restored.

[Garvin]

I can appreciate that viewpoint Danny, but it only holds for me if an item is particularly rare or unique, and that there is a case for all of its features, such as natural wear and tear, later repairs etc. to be preserved as part of its story. However, when one has several examples of the same thing, something that is readily available on the open market, and one of them happens to be an eyesore due to unnatural circumstances, then sympathetic restoration of the eyesore can only be for the better.

Its the old much discussed chestnut, is a damaged Rembrandt or a rusting classic car best left alone or restored.

Yes, very fair point John.