To refinish or not to refinish

[Vex]

I posted a thread in the shotgun section about my recent purchase of a Spas-12. Well, I was discussing with my cousin just tonight about refinishing, and we've come to a point where neither of us have any real good arguments.... the question: Do I refinish, or not?

We were comparing the condition of the Spas-12 to an L1A1 he built himself. They're both probably around 90%, with the only bad areas being some normal firing wear, stock scratches, and some rust and rust pitting in specific areas where the hands are likely to touch the metal and not get fully wiped off immediately. This rust pitting decreases the value of a firearm, no doubt. But how much?

His L1A1 is a fine piece, excellent finish even though it was built from parts of other weapons purchased online or at gun shows or found through friends who had some laying around. My Spas-12 is a true work of art, italian engineering at it's finest. Would either of us hurt the value of these guns if we had them refinished? We were discussing Walter Birdsong's Black-T and Green-T finishes, and if we refinish we would send our guns together (save on shipping down there, ya know).

Would his L1A1 frankenstein with very full, very nice finish and rust spotting be devalued if he sent it to Walter Birdsong for Green-T? Would it gain value?

Would my Spas-12 with heatshield rust pitting and otherwise flawless finish be devalued if I sent it to Walter Birdsong for Black-T? Would it gain value?

Anyway, kinda long post, but I wanted to set up the scene correctly. Thanks in advance for input. Anyone have experience with the value of guns before/after a refinishing job?

 

[michakav]

I do not know about the perticular model you are refering to, but, as a general rule, if it is rare or valuable, refinishing will decrease the value to a collector.

 

[Majic]

Don't expect nothing that has been refinished to gain in value over an original finish model. No aftermarket finish will add any value. One of the deciding factors in determining value is the amount of original finish. Remove the original finish and a lot of the value has gone out the window.
Now your buddy's L1A1 will have no real value because it's nothing but a collection of parts. Originality is the big key in determining value. So if he refinishes it then it would neither gain nor lose value as no value was there in the first place (of course I mean value vs a fully original L1A1).
Why don't you see if you can just replace your heatshield rather than paying someone to sand or draw file the pits out (if there is enough metal to even do that) before refinishing.
When your gun no longer looks new or no longer has all of it's original parts then it becomes a shooter. Shooter grade guns are looked at for the functioning. Neither you nor your buddy need concern yourselves over the value of your guns. His is a collection of parts obtained and assembled and your's have finish wear, rust, pitting, and stock scratches. Both are shooters and no longer have LNIB values so do to them as you please.