Turnbull restorations

V

vostracker

New member
Thinking about sending my engraved Colt hammerless 32 and 25 to Trumbull restorations to be refreshed. Has anyone in the hive used them? Was it worth the cost?
 
I don't know if it is worth the cost but they will no longer be original and I think collectors would value the original condition higher as long as it isn't abused.
 
Turnbull is a top shelf company that will do outstanding work on the handgun.

I have one turnbull revolver and the finish is simply outstanding, and have a few friends that have had work done on their firearms. The only complaint might be the cost - they aren't cheap, but they are works of art!

Purists will turn up their noses at a restored/ refinished firearm, so you better put on a flame proof suit.

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/
 
Last edited:
Turnbull's restorations have the reputation of increasing the value; the work is second to none. Look on their site for guns they have restored and "created". Top shelf all the way. Priced accordingly.
 
I looked at one of the color case hardend ARs in the used rack at Cabela's yesterday. I thought it looked pretty nice in person, and that surprised me.

As did the fact that they had it in the racks of used long guns considering all the absolute junk they put in the "Gun Library" now.

Prices were ridiculous across the board, so I guess it doesn't matter.
 
I hear you on that JW.
Cabelas will stick some real dogs in the Library just to make it look full!

Don't know how Turnbull work affects value.
To be honest, I would not let future value influence decisions on a gun that had sentimental value to me.

I had a '76 and an '86 (both guns were basket cases that would not hit paper at 50 yds.)
re-cased by him before he became famous, i.e. expensive.

At that time, you did your own polish and he simply baked 'em for 100 each.
Colors are breath taking to one who appreciates CC finishes.

JT
 
Turnbull are a class act, the reigning masters as far as I can see.

However, they are also human, and do at times, make mistakes. I have a friend who got one. And, he's not unhappy with Turnbull, and has bought one of their restorations, since.

He ordered one of their "1918" 1911s. This was not a restored gun, but the excellent reproduction they produce. When he got it (2013), I saw it, beautiful finish, flawless execution, fully period correct, except the markings.

The slide did not have the period correct markings, which it was supposed to have. It was blank in those spots. Called Turnbull, they gave him a pickup number, and he shipped it off. Returned 3 days later, all perfect in appearance. All costs paid for by Turnbull.

Now, my friend didn't shoot that gun much, he fired a couple of mags, went in the safe for a while, fired another a year or so later, and it wasn't until May this year that he (actually I) discovered another issue with that gun. It would not eject a loaded ball round.

My friend had fired several mags, but always shot to slide lock, then reloaded, and fired the gun empty. He uses snap caps for function testing, and it ejected them just fine.

I took a look and it had the wrong ejector in it. Called Turnbull, shipped on Monday, gun came back on Thursday. Shop manager called him and told him "that should have never happened", etc. Again, they paid all costs.

They made a mistake, and fixed it, fast, and free, I don't see how one can ask for better service.

Since then, he has gotten an 86 Win .45-70 (gun made 1891 ser#55xx) that they restored. It is absolutely beautiful. Says he would do business with them again, if he could afford it!;)

If I had the money, and a gun worth it, I would use their services. All their work I have ever seen is top shelf, for finish, and they did right when they could have done differently.
 
johnwilliamson062 said:
I looked at one of the color case hardend ARs in the used rack at Cabela's yesterday. I thought it looked pretty nice in person, and that surprised me.
Click to expand...
Was it really case hardened, or was it a chemical finish that tries to look like it? ARs are aluminum (or, these days, maybe polymer). I don't believe you can case harden aluminum -- I think it would melt. If it will take the temperature, I don't think the result would be the variegated colors you get when case hardening steel.
 
If they are factory engraved and merely have the finish worn off the high spots, I would leave them as is.

If they have been neglected, cleaning up rusty or beat up engraving will be a huge project $$$.

If they were aftermarket engraved, get them fixed up to look pretty.

My only engraved gun was done by a local guy and while it looks nice, its value is not as high as for factory. It is a regular shooter, I had it to the range yesterday.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top