458 Winchester super grade pre 64 to re blue or not?

[Mark A Ouellette]

A fine British gun or rifle in poor condition would be sent to its maker to be refreshed. They would make it as new and no one would care. Well, maybe one of us would... Of course fine British firearms would be sent back to their makers at the end of every shooting season for cleaning and whatever maintenance they required to return them to 100% condition in functionality and finish.

US firearms were made for a lifetime of use as evidenced by many of us who have a safe full of firearms that are older than we are and sometimes older than our fathers are or would have been. Most are still 100% functional while their finish may have stories to tell. With a little care they can still deliver another lifetime of use.

Perhaps because US firearms were not intended to be returned to their makers for refreshing, the thought of reblueing the pitted metal of this M70 .458 Super Grade rifle is so taboo. If I were going to hunt with that already restocked rifle, I would have the metal in new, deep blueing. Further, if I were concerned in any remaining collectability of this rode hard and obviously put up wet rifle, I'd send it to Pre 64 Win dot com ( https://pre64win.com/ ). They aren't cheap but I think they could replicate the original factory blueing.

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.

PS: Here is a Pre 64 .458 Super Grade from 1957 for $7999.

.458 Win Magnum Super Grade African Rifle - 1957

This is a Winchester model 70 African rifle chambered in the powerful .458 Winchester magnum cartridge. It was produced in 1957; both the receiver and bolt are marked with serial number 401251. There is a number, maybe a Minnesota Driver's License number, etched on the loading port receiver...

pre64win.com

 

[CZDiesel]

Very interesting comment, please expand on it? (I have 458 African that was reblued, but is otherwise in very good shape).
Are there a market for custom 458 Africans?

Yes there is a very large market for restored custom Pre-64 Winchesters when done by the right rifle and stock maker. It has to have to right name attached to the build sheet!
And yes it’s not cheap but you won’t lose money on the build either! @Mtn_Infantry is correct that the build can run anywhere between $6k and $15k depending on level of build desired. The blanks alone can run upwards of $6k.
But the level of craftsmanship is second to none very often surpassing the English Best rifles!

I would like to see a restored .458 bring $15-20k

Because I’ve seen a couple of .458 pre 64’s go to auction in the last couple of years, that were expertly restored and both failed to break $6K at auction….. and god knows what the restoration bill was.

$15k to $20k depending on who does the build is easily attained! Todd Ramirez and LeRoy Berry rifles are this and more, sometimes much much more! David Miller rifles sold for much much more

Here is a CZ from LeRoy Berry and bet your bottom dollar a Winchester African of the same level build would be listed for more! I for a fact know he is finishing up a Winchester African and he has told me what he wants to get for it and I guarantee it will sell fast!

In the end it’s up to the OP but it’s another option? He could send it to
Leroy or Todd and have it done for well under $10k ($7500?) and end up with something very special!
Or he could just have a competent gun smith reblue and enjoy? But in its condition it has lost its collector value so rebluing will not hurt the value anymore than it is at present condition and would probably increase it…

 

[CZDiesel]

A fine British gun or rifle in poor condition would be sent to its maker to be refreshed. They would make it as new and no one would care. Well, maybe one of us would... Of course fine British firearms would be sent back to their makers at the end of every shooting season for cleaning and whatever maintenance they required to return them to 100% condition in functionality and finish.

US firearms were made for a lifetime of use as evidenced by many of us who have a safe full of firearms that are older than we are and sometimes older than our fathers are or would have been. Most are still 100% functional while their finish may have stories to tell. With a little care they can still deliver another lifetime of use.

Perhaps because US firearms were not intended to be returned to their makers for refreshing, the thought of reblueing the pitted metal of this M70 .458 Super Grade rifle is so taboo. If I were going to hunt with that already restocked rifle, I would have the metal in new, deep blueing. Further, if I were concerned in any remaining collectability of this rode hard and obviously put up wet rifle, I'd send it to Pre 64 Win dot com ( https://pre64win.com/ ). They aren't cheap but I think they could replicate the original factory blueing.

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun.

PS: Here is a Pre 64 .458 Super Grade from 1957 for $7999.

.458 Win Magnum Super Grade African Rifle - 1957

This is a Winchester model 70 African rifle chambered in the powerful .458 Winchester magnum cartridge. It was produced in 1957; both the receiver and bolt are marked with serial number 401251. There is a number, maybe a Minnesota Driver's License number, etched on the loading port receiver...

pre64win.com

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It’s interesting that you bring up the English Best rifles frequently being sent back for refreshing. Every one of these well known rifle and stock makers often take back customers rifles to refresh and remove stock dings making them look new again!
And that is a vary good price for that 458 on Pre-64!

 

[CZDiesel]

I'll not chime in regarding the refinishing of this particular rifle, however I'd like to ask for opinions regarding the sanctity of rusted, scratched old rifles of any make.
If the topic before us was a rare,low production Ferrari, who would counsel to leave it rusty and dented?
The same can be said regarding antique clocks, old instruments, old colonial houses in New England, and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Why is an old gun so sacrosanct ?
Tell me that it's Teddy Roosevelt's personal African rifle, I understand and agree. Show me a rare M70 that belonged to a hardware store owner from Moosehead Lake, Maine and is now rusted and scratched, why do we revere it's "Patina", ie rust and damage, so much??

All of his rifles were restored as were Hemmingway’s. There is a documentary on Teddys Double