To Refinish or not to refinish?

[billsm1]

I have a IHC that came to me at about 70% IHC the other parts were Springfield. The rifle will be all correct soon but will have some differnt finish colors. The original barrel/receiver/trigger group had a very very thin finish to it. IHC parts are hard enough to find without trying to match color/shading, so I am consigering a repark.
I would like some honest thoughts and opinions on reparking (be nice)

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[Cajun J]

I wouldn't do it. If all the parts are original IHC, just leave as is. I have an HRA from the CMP with an original HRA stock. I had the stock refinished a while back and althought it is a beautiful rifle now, I think it would have been better if I had left it as received. A lot of people have told me the same thing.

[BruceV]

Original finish can not be replaced. If the current finish is really bad, then refinishing might be a viable option. But you may be better off continuing to look around and maybe trade your better (?) finished parts for parts that more nearly match the overall finish of your rifle. JMHO. Sincerely. BruceV.

[Nate]

For what it may be worth, it was common back in the '80s to replace non matching parts with some of the many available (then) with color as the guide. It turned out that correct rifles did in fact have varing colored parts because of the various sub contractors. Some of the beautifully matched rifles we turned out were completely wrong.

[Devil Dog]

A nice looking "restored" gun is better than a ugly "restored" gun.
Re-parkerize it and call it what it is...a restored gun.

[0311Shooter]

One thing no one ever considers when they debate whether to REfinish or not. What is the main reason they were parkerized in the first place?

To PRESERVE them, to PROTECT them. It's why I just about always try to refinish the metal, strip and redo the wood. Except for that 1905 03 that I have, (I don't handle it very much), I strive to preserve and protect (sounds like a sign on a cop car) every instrument I own.

[drshame]

Your gun, you decide.
Want the "Been there, done that" look?

Or the "Newly Restored, looks Great' alternative?

Deans' Gun Restoration does great work on refinishing and adding a new stock in whatever grade you like.

Anthony Pucci at Orion 7 has a great rep along with Tim Shufflin for quality parkerizing.

You have a lot of choices along with "Leave it Alone".

If it's going to be a shooter, you'll have to deal with having it look great until it's first nick and ding.


If it's a safe queen, it's an easier decision.



1953 CMP Springfield Garand, Service Grade, cleaned up and stock refinished by first civilian owner: Me!