pre 64 dilemma

[djc1965]

My grandfather bought it new in 49. The bolt handle, floorplate and triggerguard have zero blue left but have worn to a shiny dark chrome like finish. Much of the original varnish is gone as well, just a few splotchy areas here and there. Checkering rounded and worn.Small dents and scratches all over stock with a small chip out of the bottom of the grip as well as a small gouge in the fore end checkering when I fell climbing down off a rocky arizona ridge looking for a coyote I zapped with a 55gr accelerator 40 years ago. Barrel is scratched, bluing is gone in a few spots. Old hardasarock airpad is actually warped and pulling away from stock. The action is well maintained and butter smooth. The old redfield wideview 2x7 and redfield jr. base and rings still holds zero but does fog. This rifle has seen a lot of country and means a lot to me. It's been my back-up for a long time now and I do shoot it occasionally at the range. I'm stuck between leaving it the way its been for almost 70 years and doing something different like maybe rebarrel to 35 whelen and restock. Would that be totally wrong. I just want this to stay in my family for future gens to use if they still can. I have little grandsons now so maybe that will happen. Thoughts anyone?http://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/58f53b48...17_124213.jpg?

[arrowshooter]

Sorry if I am missing it but Pre-64 what?

[sonofeugene]

Link no good unless you have a Tapatalk account.

(I hate Tapatalk, Pinterest, etc.)

Regarding your rifle, I'd not touch it at all. Not one bit. It's family history. You're heirs will appreciate it more if it's original as your grandfather shot it.

If you have the urge to modify a rifle, find another one. Do a bang up job on it and then also pass it down through the generations. Your ancestors will then have two rifles. One as you owned and shot it and one as your grandfather owned and shot.

[djc1965]

Oops, I guess that is relevant info. Standard sporter in 30-06. It wa my grandfathers and my grandmother gave it to me about 10 years ago. I first shot it when I was 8 years old and I'm 52 now.

[sonofeugene]

Oh, and cleaning it up just a little, like replacing the airpad is fine. Try to find vintage replacement parts whenever possible. But if something doesn't really need replacing, don't.

[hogbody74]

pre-64

Do'nt do anything to it but normal cleaning, maybe get the scope resealed, your kids and grandkids will appreciate it more that way. hogbody 74

[Jimmy's]

I'm a Winchester guy. If it has seen that much use. Make it a custom and cherish it for the next forever.

[djc1965]

http://s346.photobucket.com/user/djc...g.jpg.html?o=3 just trying to learn how to upload pics. I appreciate the replies

[ElvenSoul]

Keep it original.

Shoot it only on special occasions.

In the meantime get yourself

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/638885968

[mjmagee67]

My Pre-64 Win Model 70 in 30-06 was my grandfather's, who died in a plane crash. The gun has been reblued and had new nice stock. Did that effect the value----I have no idea. It is worth more to me as my grandfathers gun than any collector's gun. It is also my medium and large game hunting gun, there is no better way to honor my grandfather than use his favorite hunting gun to hunt. I know the throat is eroded because you can load well past max and the bullet never hits the rifling. So I load book length and the gun shoots .75 inch 10 shot groups at 100 yards and I've gotten 1.3 inch at 200 yards. The gun shoots great.

[ElvenSoul]

How long ago was this gunsmith in done and who did it.

If work by a famed gunsmith it can add value.

[readysetgo]

Embedding pics for you OP. If you do not approve, just let me know and I will delete.

[JackEllis]

If it was in my family, I'd leave it alone other than perhaps to get the pad repaired or replaced so it cn continue to be used.

The fact that it has some dings and the bluing is faded means it's been well used. It also has character. It has stories to tell.

My wife has an ancient Czech made pistol that was her great grandfathers. It functions but ammunition is no longer available. Not worth a lot of money but it has enormous sentimental value. A gunsmith advised us to leave it as is and not even oil it (it's quite dry where we live). It'll eventually get handed down to someone in her family.

[Varg Vikernes]

Yea that thing looks fine.

[HBDano]

I'd leave it as is... Or only fix replace what's necessary for proper function. To me it would be like my dad's Beretta 92f, that he carried for about half his 30 years with the LAPD (started carrying it as soon as they stopped caring revolvers). Every dent, ding, holster wear etc. has a story and history behind it. It's one of my most cherished firearms.

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