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Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 694 Location: MN

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an old Lebeau after long telks with the seller. Tight, no rust, stock worn but nothing missing. Its a wand.

Shoot as is?....refinish/rechecker?...reblue?

What say you ?? and if you're in favor of any of this work, give the names of the craftsmen you'd send it to.

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

Believe I would leave as is---if it ain't broke.........Nothing like honest wear on a hunting shotgun.If that girl could only talk Cool

*Last edited by skeettx on Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:18 pm; edited 1 time in total*

My old and sage advise
Use it for one full year and then decide.

I like to leave the shooters alone and admire
their vintage used look.

The collector guns are not shot as much and are
kept pristine

Mike

p.s. does yours have 65mm chambers?

Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 694 Location: MN

Yes...the gun has 65mm chambers.

*Last edited by skeettx on Fri Nov 29, 2013 2:50 pm; edited 1 time in total*

I like 65mm chambers, they are civilized Smile

Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 265

Restore it. In the long run you'll be happy

Member Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2350 Location: West MI

I'm w/hoashooter & skeettx on this one, leave her as is. Refinish on her would look like a woman of a certain age wearing clothes suited for much younger lady's, just sorta kinda not quite right...if after a time, then buy her a new wardrobe...

Skeettx is a wise man. His advice is, as always, correct and thought out.

One thing I will tell you; IF you decide to get it refinished, then you will not have the gun to use for a long time. If it handles like a wand as you say and shoots "where you look"....and you decide to go the refinish route, start NOW, because you may have it back for birds next fall. Or, not.

Spoken by an old guy who has been "twisting in the wind" for a long, long time on a couple of lovely side by sides.

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE Confused

Leave it alone..it has earned every bit of character it has. I get bit weary of the guys who get a nice old gun and immediately screw it up by having it "restored" Or worse yet, without having shot it much rush it off to a smith to "change the chokes"....shoot it, get to know it and enjoy it...

Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 265

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Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 265

Those are after/before on a similar gun as yours, that's a 16 gauge Francotte Knockabout. I really don't see how restoring the gun ruined anything, it breathed life back in the gun. It's not like you have an original Parker.

go to admgun.com for a smith

*Last edited by skeettx on Fri Nov 29, 2013 2:51 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Brian,
AWESOME JOB!!!! Shocked

How much did the restoration cost?
Thanks
Mike

Looks like a very nice smithing shop

http://www.admgun.com/

Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 265

Thanks I have a soft spot for Belgian guns.

The gun was fully restored for 1300. That included strip & clean, barrels, wood, case color and pad.

The key with any restoration in my opinion is to pick a gun that only needs cosmetic surgery. It gets really expensive when the smith needs to fabricate parts. Then the term money pit comes to mind.

I paid $1400 and put almost the cost of the gun into restoration. I am confidant that I could get $2700 for the gun. It's not for sale however Wink

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1698 Location: Minnesota

Skeettx is 100% on the money. Shoot as is for a year then decide. While you are shooting it you can shop around for different people to do the refinishing. There's an incredible price range for the services. The cost of just the case coloring is the most expensive, especially for the bone/charcoal method. If you are willing to do some of the grunt work on the wood like stripping/sanding you can save some money there.

Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 265

All due respect Savage gave you bad advice. Unless you are a pro don't mess with the wood. Stripping the gun yourself won't save you very much money and in some cases if you screw up the gun it will cost you more money.