Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2007
- Messages
- 13,146
OK, picked up a 1973-made Marlin 39M (mountie version is the 20" barrel version). This one is a rough looking shooter grade - bluing is around 55% if lucky, with some light rust on the barrel. Wood is fairly cut up, too.
What I want to do is restore this - work the wood up with sanding and a nice oil finish job, and have someone polish & re-blue the metal. I know this would increase MY enjoyment of ownership of the rifle, and it would be an interesting project along the way, but would this raise or lower the value, do you think?
I think that if it was 1968 or prior in this condition, that this would reduce the value, and I'd leave it as is. But since it's a later model, I believe it will increase the actual street value, making it comparable to a recent manufacture one in looks. Paid $255, BTW.
What I want to do is restore this - work the wood up with sanding and a nice oil finish job, and have someone polish & re-blue the metal. I know this would increase MY enjoyment of ownership of the rifle, and it would be an interesting project along the way, but would this raise or lower the value, do you think?
I think that if it was 1968 or prior in this condition, that this would reduce the value, and I'd leave it as is. But since it's a later model, I believe it will increase the actual street value, making it comparable to a recent manufacture one in looks. Paid $255, BTW.