Oh, when it comes to family heirloom guns, we both know that the value encapsulated in the gun isn’t measured in mere money. The value there is never about how much the gun originally cost, what the family member who now owns it could get for it, or any of those things. It’s a value that’s deeply emotional and specific to that family, and I never pooh-pooh such things.
On the flip side, I’ve also heard other ‘smiths tell me of a grandson coming in with Gramp’s old 1911 from WWII, and wanting it hacked seven different ways to Sunday with modern gee-gaws put on it, which would crater the value of a very collectable 1911. There, I think a responsible ‘smith should explain (in ballpark figures) that the heirloom is worth, and how much of that value will be lost my making modern mods to it... then, in those cases, I think it is better for owner to think about getting a modern gun and preserving the collectable piece in as-is condition.
I was walking past the “to be done” rack and notice a Winchester model 1892 with a Tasco scope box tied to it and a work order. I examined the gun and found it to be a beautiful gun made in 1895, 97% factory bluing, 100% case hardening, with not a scratch on it. Gorgeous factory checkering on the stock. I called the owner and told him in my estimation that if he went ahead and mounted the $35 scope on the rifle, he’d turn a $2500 collectors item into a $250 shooter including the scope. I suggested that I select a new Model 94 Winchester for him ($99) and have the scope mounted on that. The customer profusely thanked me, came in, bought an upgraded 94 ($179), upgraded to a Leupold scope ($98) and quick detach ringmounting ($45) and I gave him back the 1892 and he paid me for an Appraisal for insurance on it ($35). Total sale $357. . . Instead of $60!
I almost got FIRED for doing all that! Turns out the owner of the gunshop saw the cancelation of the work order and found out I was responsible. HE HAD MADE THE ORIGINAL SCOPE SALE AND HE WAS PISSED! He assumed I lost HIM a $35 scope sale plus a $25 mounting job! He didn’t care what that customer would have told others when he found out what our shop let him do to a valuable antique. He knew nothing about the sales I had made to that customer. . . but I was told to NEVER interfere with his sales again, despite the value of the gun or what going to be done to it. He told me there was always another customer around the corner!
That customer became MY devoted customer and bought at least $15,000 worth of guns from me in the next four years. Had I allowed the destruction of his antique, he would have been someone else’s valuable customer as well as telling everyone he knew how he’d been done dirty by our shop!
The worst scenario of moding I ever saw; it made me literally sick: I was managing the Olde Sacramento Armoury and this kid comes in one day and asked, “Do you buy curios?”
I said, “It depends on what it is.”
He says, “I inherited an old rifle from my grampa, and I made it into a lamp in my metal shop in school. Would you be interested?”
I told him to bring it in.
The next day the kid and his mother show up with the lamp. So help me I almost cried! It was a Winchester 1873 in almost pristine condition . . . with a hole drilled through the barrel for the cord right through the words “One of One Thousand”!!! He had drilled and tapped the bore to take a brass lamp ferrel where the wire went through into a lamp socket. It had a western lamp shade with a stagecoach scene on it! The fine burl walnut stock was screwed to an upright so that a round wooden base could be screwed to it. He was very proud of his workmanship and said he got an ‘A’ on it. His mother told me she didn’t want it in her house. . . it didn’t match her decor.
I told the kid he had taken a fine antique rifle worth $15,000 to $20,000 and turned it into a $1,000 curio, if that. I thought long and hard before I decided not to make an offer on it. It hurt too much to look at it and I just did not want it in my shop or in my collection. I’ve had second thoughts about that now and think I should have bought it, but I HATE industrial strength stupidity like that.