Hi Power restoration

[viper8u2]

Pretty cool restoration of a vintage WWII Nazi Browning Hi-Power on another forum I lurk

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/off-top ... power.html

[MnHornet]

Wow, that is amazing.

[selurcspi]

A nice restoration, but the value is cut down to plain used value, probably dropped from $2K to $600.

[plblark]

"Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterK
Doesn't it destroy the historical value?
It's not for sale.... so no it doesn't.

It really depends how you look at it. Would you rather have a shooter that's in junk condition or one in mint condition that's still a shooter? I made my decision."



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[xd ED]

Monetary value ≠ Historical value ≠ utilitarian value
That pistol should have been put in a display case, untouched.

That's almost like putting Hogue grips on Patton's revolvers

[andrewP]

I get that the collector/historical value, and therefore monetary value, has been chopped, but given that the guy stated that he plans to keep it forever, the monetary value becomes irrelevant. At that point, why not make it as nice as you can for your own use and enjoyment, presuming you've got the skills and/or budget to do so?

Same thing applies to classic/collector cars, really. If you find a "survivor" with little to no rust, do you just fix what absolutely needs fixing and stick with the original paint, etc, or do you spend the time/effort/money to make it "perfect," including any mods you'd like to do? Well, that depends; if you plan to sell it or you just love having it be as original as possible, the answer is obviously the first one, but if you plan to keep and enjoy it, well, maybe it gets a ground-up restoration with new paint, upgrades/mods to your taste, the whole 9 yards. It's a personal choice, and of course some people will (violently) disagree with whatever you choose. I say pick the way you want it to be and ignore anyone who yells at you for it, be it a gun or a car.

[JJ]

The condition is the history of the gun itself IMO.

Shameful waster of a rare commodity.

[rtk]

Regardless of the overhaul, still one of the finest fighting pistols ever created...A true work of art... sans the hammer bite.

[bummey]

He butchered that High Power. The wear and age and corrosion was beautiful, but now it looks as fake as Bruce Jenner.

[goatroper]

Seems to me he could have sold it to a collector, taken the cash and bought a new one. Then, with the cash left over, picked up a restoration project sans historical value. O well, his gun and his money.

[LarryFlew]

Value is probably higher to someone wanting a very nice but older gun. Ie, I had a #8 quality Colt 1903 with original holster etc that sold for a grand and a company that does that type of over-restored work sold 2 that had the nicest blueing I have ever seen. One went for $2K and one for $2300. All 3 sold on GB within 6 days of each other. To be honest if I had that kind of funds I would have loved one of the 2.

[Mauser98]

Why does an item loose value or historical importance if it's restored? It is somehow not from the WWII era now, or is it now a different model or brand? Nope. It's still the same age, make, model, caliber, and now looks better.

If restoring things to as close to original, ruins it's value, then the guys on American Restoration must be bleeding money. I mean how can they buy all that stuff, pour more money into it, add on their time, and then make a profit if its value is now junk bond status?

I salute the guy for doing what he wanted to do with his own gun.

[FJ540]

I don't get it either. It might have looked pristine when it came across the pond, then got neglected for the last 60 years being tossed around in someone's sock drawer, or left to rust in an attic without any oil. The guy puts it back to as close to factory mint as most folks can get and all of a sudden its a range beater grade gun?

[MnHornet]

I respect the skill and patience the guy has. That thing turned out beautiful.
I'd love to fing a POS like that and try to restore it.