Live Life to the Fullest - followup

[Tommie]

The Boss’s article and post brought a question to mind regarding the firearm world. Currently I’m having a stock professionally stripped and refinished. The rifle is in mint condition with original box and is somewhat uncommon/collectible. My only gripe with the gun is a muddy factory finish that hides the wood grain. Am I trashing the collectibility? Without a doubt. Am I likely to ever sell the gun? Highly unlikely. Will I enjoy the rifle more after the stock refinish? Absolutely. I don’t own trailer queens.

The question in light of the living life to the fullest discussion: am I being selfish and short-sighted by modifying an otherwise pristine rifle? The old saying goes “They’re only original once”.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Its just material...do what u want as long as it makes u happy

 

[6.5 forever]

The Boss’s article and post brought a question to mind regarding the firearm world. Currently I’m having a stock professionally stripped and refinished. The rifle is in mint condition with original box and is somewhat uncommon/collectible. My only gripe with the gun is a muddy factory finish that hides the wood grain. Am I trashing the collectibility? Without a doubt. Am I likely to ever sell the gun? Highly unlikely. Will I enjoy the rifle more after the stock refinish? Absolutely. I don’t own trailer queens.

The question in light of the living life to the fullest discussion: am I being selfish and short-sighted by modifying an otherwise pristine rifle? The old saying goes “They’re only original once”.

No use in owning if YOU don't enjoy it.

 

[Bob3700]

The Boss’s article and post brought a question to mind regarding the firearm world. Currently I’m having a stock professionally stripped and refinished. The rifle is in mint condition with original box and is somewhat uncommon/collectible. My only gripe with the gun is a muddy factory finish that hides the wood grain. Am I trashing the collectibility? Without a doubt. Am I likely to ever sell the gun? Highly unlikely. Will I enjoy the rifle more after the stock refinish? Absolutely. I don’t own trailer queens.

The question in light of the living life to the fullest discussion: am I being selfish and short-sighted by modifying an otherwise pristine rifle? The old saying goes “They’re only original once”.

Did you purchase the rifle to collect (sell and make money) or to enjoy and shoot? If the latter, then by all means enjoy your rifle. Let your estate sale will determine the value!

 

[jpjulian]

I have a Beretta 686 I bought years ago to shoot trap and sporting clays. The thing just pounds me even with light trap loads. The old guy who taught me much about shooting clay birds told me the stock didn't fit right and suggested taking a rasp to it. I protested taking a rasp to a new gun.
"It's just wood" he said. I miss that old guy. He knew more about rifles and shotguns than I ever will. Do what makes you happy with your stock.

 

[Lee in Texas]

Preacher from this site restored an FN commercial Mauser stock for me. It’s from the late 1940s. It looks like it left a sporting goods store yesterday. I think it’s beautiful. I’ll never sell it. I don’t really care what someone thinks of it after I’m gone. Maybe not as collectible as some, but gosh I love those early FN commercial Mausers imported by Firearms International.

 

[davidjoe]

I think the Boss means don’t wait forever to do things that are a good idea. Things that were never a good idea, don’t become a better idea, based upon longevity. They still remain a bad idea, there is simply less time to suffer the potential consequences of them. Not saying anything about a particular gun project.

I knew kids that derived great pleasure from smashing their cars and other toys. We are becoming grandparents these days; some wish they hadn’t done that and could share them, telling stories, others would do it again. We cannot say whose method created more satisfaction in total, but we can all agree, all things equal, whose method has potential to still be appreciated, in years to come.

 

[jds holler]

I'd say let the guys who will be collecting the guns, cars, sports cards, watches, coins, --- and whatever item -- worry about the condition when they collect it fifty or a hundred years from now.

We would all be better off if we took better care of our immortal soul, and worried a little less about the scratch on our Purdey quail gun. jd