Does stippling a gun add or decrease value for resale?
- Thread starter CDR_Glock
- Start date
I've always wondered how much (if any) applying heat hot enough to melt Glock plastic adds to the chemical degradation of the polymers the frame is made of. I can only speculate that at some temperature Glock polymers begin to break down. I believe that most soldering irons easily reach temps of 650-700F.
I havent seen any problems yet. I have a couple of guns I shoot all the time, that over the past 9 years or so, I stippled and then touched/freshened up the stippling on them a couple of times, as needed, and they have shown no signs of a problem or issue.
Now, other than the initial removing/reshaping of the larger, factory molded, "checkering", Im not bearing down deep into the plastic when I do it. Its more just surface refinishing.
One of those guns has over 100,000 rounds though it too, so its not like its not getting a workout. No signs of cracking or failure yet, and I keep a close watch on them.
Now, other than the initial removing/reshaping of the larger, factory molded, "checkering", Im not bearing down deep into the plastic when I do it. Its more just surface refinishing.
One of those guns has over 100,000 rounds though it too, so its not like its not getting a workout. No signs of cracking or failure yet, and I keep a close watch on them.
Agree.
If the stippling/grip-reduction work is professionally well done, and not a bubba-style DIY hack job, your Glock's value as a used gun won't decrease ...
... And you could realize some gain on it as a "used gun" IF you find a buyer who's looking for a stippled Glock (in that caliber), since the total cost - to him - is less than buying a new gun and then sending it off to Robar, or wherever, for the same degree and quality of stippling/reduction work
But on selling guns with some degree of well-done custom work, it's definitely a right-place, right-buyer thing.
Of course. And we all know how things go when it comes time to sell trade/anything, especially if a dealer is involved. What youre selling/trading is basically junk, and they are just being nice just giving you that sub low ball offer.
Of course, the next day, when its in the case, its at or above retail, and a note explaining on it all the "extras" that just the day before, somehow made it worthless.
If this were a poll,I'd say it heavily suggests stippling decreases value and market appeal.
Frankly,I'm not a fan. I can see(and accept) the utilitarian value of it.
What is(IMO) ridiculous is the notion that if its done by "GonzoGhuruBlackOps TacWorks) its somehow more acceptable than a labor of love amateur job.
Do you really think"GonzoGhuru"sits around with a woodburning pen actually doing the job you pay him for? He likely has a high school hang around kid do it.
Either A) Someone has odd priorities,or
B) The job stands for itself.
You get to spend your own money your way,but this "Unaltered" stuff gets crazy.A LOT of "out of the box" guns don't work that good.
I read an article about Holland and Holland,the fine,handmade British shotgun.
The H+H spokesman interviewed in the article said the American idea of not "altering" a fine H+H double was BARNCARPET!! Ridiculous!!Anyone who thinks so has no idea what an H+H double is about.
The point is having a fine shotgun built precisely to fit the person who ordered it. The next owner will be different.To truly have an H+H means going to H+H with the shotgun TO HAVE IT ALTERED.
Its bending yourself out of shape to fit the brick that comes out of the box that is ridiculous.
Just do,or have it done,with some skill and pride.
And do it for YOU,not whatever someone else will think
Frankly,I'm not a fan. I can see(and accept) the utilitarian value of it.
What is(IMO) ridiculous is the notion that if its done by "GonzoGhuruBlackOps TacWorks) its somehow more acceptable than a labor of love amateur job.
Do you really think"GonzoGhuru"sits around with a woodburning pen actually doing the job you pay him for? He likely has a high school hang around kid do it.
Either A) Someone has odd priorities,or
B) The job stands for itself.
You get to spend your own money your way,but this "Unaltered" stuff gets crazy.A LOT of "out of the box" guns don't work that good.
I read an article about Holland and Holland,the fine,handmade British shotgun.
The H+H spokesman interviewed in the article said the American idea of not "altering" a fine H+H double was BARNCARPET!! Ridiculous!!Anyone who thinks so has no idea what an H+H double is about.
The point is having a fine shotgun built precisely to fit the person who ordered it. The next owner will be different.To truly have an H+H means going to H+H with the shotgun TO HAVE IT ALTERED.
Its bending yourself out of shape to fit the brick that comes out of the box that is ridiculous.
Just do,or have it done,with some skill and pride.
And do it for YOU,not whatever someone else will think
Walt Sherrill
New member
HiBC said:
One point you made, but not quoted above, I'll agree with: stippling can reduce market appeal. Some folks just don't like it. Others do. For the ones that do, a lack of stippling might also reduce market appeal...
In making your next two point, you've used a debating technique called "Reductio ad absurdum" in which (put simply) you pick extreme examples and ask us to assume they are somehow typical.
Most of us have said, with regard to stippling, it'll depend on how well the work was done. A crappy stippling job might degrade the value of the gun. A good one might not. One by a "big name" firm, beautifully done with proof that they did it, might even get the seller some extra money -- but only if the buyer wants (or doesn't dislike) stippling.
A stippling job done by a big-name gunsmithing firm (like Robar) is likely to look pretty darned good, because the firm's reputation rests on the work they do. That work is typically NOT DONE by a hang-around high school kids (unless they're family members learning the business).
On the other hand, a lot of amateur stippling jobs aren't all that great. They might be OKAY, but nothing to get excited about. A "work of love" done by a talented amateur may be both attractive and functional, but it might not justify a price increase over the standard (un-stippled) price of the same gun, if that's the only change. But someone who wants an "original" gun may not even consider the weapon.
The finished product is what will help the buyer decide, but as has been said more than once, not everybody likes stippling.
HiBC said:
Strange reasoning. Holland and Holland builds custom guns -- "bespoke", I think, is the term used with clothing, but it can be applied to other things, too. Those weapons are built, from scratch, to suit the buyer's tastes and physical requirements (or quirks). Not everybody can afford (or is willing) to fly to London to get changes made if they acquire or inherit a Holland and Holland weapon.
The guns we've been talking about aren't CUSTOM weapons. And applying the standards used when discussing custom guns doesn't seem appropriate here.
That people want or need more than the standard run of the mill product explains why more and more guns increasingly have different grip inserts or grip panels, can have different sights, different length barrels, maybe even different caliber barrels, and why trigger mods are increasingly available, (or come adjustable from the factory), etc. etc. And if the frames aren't polymer, that's also why different types of grips and finishes are available. It's not always about FUNCTION alone, but some of these changes, including stippling, can improve function in some applications.
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Okay, 
... let's try it this way. Focus, dudenals ..
In the 10mm group pic below, the G20 and G29 both have had the same BTC stippling, grip-reduction, and beavertail work on their frames.
On the slides, barrels, and slide internals, Robar applied their NP3 finish.
Both types of custom work easily qualify as "professionally well-done."
Now, I'm not ready to sell them, ... BUT will that work bring me HUGE bucks if I do decide to sell them in 3 years - like on GunJoker? Or at the local cash-n-carry Gun Show?
Maybe, maybe not ...
It's all about "right-buyer, right-time, right-place."
... let's try it this way. Focus, dudenals .. In the 10mm group pic below, the G20 and G29 both have had the same BTC stippling, grip-reduction, and beavertail work on their frames.
On the slides, barrels, and slide internals, Robar applied their NP3 finish.
Both types of custom work easily qualify as "professionally well-done."
Now, I'm not ready to sell them, ... BUT will that work bring me HUGE bucks if I do decide to sell them in 3 years - like on GunJoker? Or at the local cash-n-carry Gun Show?
Maybe, maybe not ...
It's all about "right-buyer, right-time, right-place."
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jackstrawIII
New member
99.9% of modifications decrease the resale value. That includes "upgrades" like stippling, triggers, cerakote, springs, etc.
There's a difference between normal depreciation and user modification. If I buy a car and then paint it bright orange I've likely reduced the pool of buyers interested in that car. If I like the car to be bright orange and I don't plan to sell the car that's a moot point.
You've sort of become the champion of stippling in this thread. If you like your pistols stippled that's your call and as someone that has had pistols stippled in the past I can understand why. But I think realizing that you won't be able to "convert" everyone to the same line of thinking is important. Some won't ever try it and that's their call and they may have their own reasons. For that matter you never struck me as someone overly concerned with what others think rather than what works for your system.
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Wasnt looking to be the "champion", just responding to things I keep hearing that sound more like they are based on (uninformed) opinion, than any kind of fact.
If you dont like it, dont do it or buy it. As was mentioned, some who do like it, might be willing to pay the premium if the work was nicely done, and knowing what it would cost if they had to have it done.
But whatever. It sounds like most responding here arent a fan, and I just wondered if that was because of something negative, or just negative opinion based on nothing more.
If you dont like it, dont do it or buy it. As was mentioned, some who do like it, might be willing to pay the premium if the work was nicely done, and knowing what it would cost if they had to have it done.
But whatever. It sounds like most responding here arent a fan, and I just wondered if that was because of something negative, or just negative opinion based on nothing more.
ShootistPRS
New member
As far as collectors are concerned, any permanent modification reduces the value of a collector piece. Now I have to ask myself; Are Glocks ever going to be a collectible handgun?
They are plastic, mass produced guns built to be replaced not repaired, so, no they will never be a collector gun. Just remember that when you make a permanent modification you have to find someone who wants what you did. You have cut your market by 90%. No more than 1 out of ten will like your mods if they are done well. If you mess up and it looks bad then you are going to own it forever.
For a collector gun, if you polish the brass it takes away from the value of the gun. You can polish silver inlay, if you do it carefully and don't touch anything but the silver but you leave the wood alone and you leave the brass and steel alone except for oil.
They are plastic, mass produced guns built to be replaced not repaired, so, no they will never be a collector gun. Just remember that when you make a permanent modification you have to find someone who wants what you did. You have cut your market by 90%. No more than 1 out of ten will like your mods if they are done well. If you mess up and it looks bad then you are going to own it forever.
For a collector gun, if you polish the brass it takes away from the value of the gun. You can polish silver inlay, if you do it carefully and don't touch anything but the silver but you leave the wood alone and you leave the brass and steel alone except for oil.