Refinishing My Grandfathers MII

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I am thinking about sending this to Ford or back to Ruger. I do not care about the resale value as it will continue to remain in my family. I just got it from my mother she had all of my grandfathers stuff when he passed away. I am sure if my grandpa could see this he would probably faint at the site of it. The spots along the barrel is pitting as well as a bit on the frame

I have fired it and it is nice, producing nice groups with my grandfathers wildcat ammo, who knows how old the ammo is.

My question to you all is it worth sending in for a refinishing or is it to far gone?

If you were in this situation whom would you send it to?

 

[rcmodel]

I do not care about the resale value as it will continue to remain in my family.

No, it is not even close to too far gone to be nicely refinished!

Refinishing a Ruger Auto will not hurt the resale value.
They are not, so far, "collector" guns like old S&W & Colt & others.
(The exception might be early red eagle guns with a relatively low serial numbers, or scarce models)

Fords will do a fine job if you don't mind the expense.

rc

 

[XavierBreath]

I'm going to somewhat disagree with rc a bit...... The Ruger MKII is quickly becoming a cult gun, similar to the HK squeezecockers. You can expect their prices to climb. They aren't made any more, won't be made again, and they are the happy medium between the Ruger MKI and MKIII. The prices are down because so many were manufactured. But........ Try to find one for sale. You will look for a while and likely pay the price asked when you find one. In a time of exhorbitant ammo prices, 22 pistols are great to keep shooting with, and the Ruger MKII is a great 22 pistol, reliable, accurate, and affordable. It has all the makings of a gun to collect and watch increase in value.

That being said..... I would not refinish this pistol. As long as it shoots well, just shoot it and enjoy it. Remove the flaky rust with oil and a copper penny. Then keep it oiled and enjoy it. Toss it in a holster and take it fishing, or plinking. There is something nice about a gun that has enough wear that it becomes a part of our lives, and something sad about perfectly refinished guns that are never really used any more.

It's OK to have a Ruger 22 pistol with some wear on it. It shows you use it. I'm posting a pic of my fishing gun below. I wouldn't refinish it for the world. That being said, Ruger does excellent refinishing of their own guns.

 

[theotherwaldo]

Nice poppers, X!

 

[rondog]

What XB said. I think I needs to find me a nice old beat-up .22 auto, and a Ruger would be just dandy! I've seen INSANE prices on some of the old Colt .22 autos, Woodsman, Huntsman, etc

 

[MADDOG]

It looks good to me. Clean it up like you should, and shoot it like your grandpa would.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I have used 0000 steel wool and Kroil to clean it to the point you see it in the photo.