The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Intact Mum Arisaka, restore collectors value?

Kimio · August 9, 2013, 11:25 PM

I was browsing around Gun Broker and came across an interesting offer. An all matching Arisaka with the mum still intact, and from my understanding, that is a pretty rare find.

The rifle itself looks pretty good according to the photo's, and if I were to purchase this rifle it would make for an incredible historical and cultural piece for me (Being half Japanese and all). I'm a collector, but I'm a shooter as well, and would like to be able to shoot the rifles I buy.

My question is, is this one of those rifles that you wouldn't dare touch, leaving it in the condition it was found in and letting it be or would refinishing it ruin its collectors value. I'm more inclined to believe the latter, that doing anything but leaving the rifle in its original configuration would ruin it as a collectors piece.

Keep this one in the safe, and get another one if you want to make it a project gun.

Here's the auction

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=357430776

Thoughts?

August 9, 2013, 11:25 PM	#1
Kimio Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,171	Intact Mum Arisaka, restore collectors value? I was browsing around Gun Broker and came across an interesting offer. An all matching Arisaka with the mum still intact, and from my understanding, that is a pretty rare find. The rifle itself looks pretty good according to the photo's, and if I were to purchase this rifle it would make for an incredible historical and cultural piece for me (Being half Japanese and all). I'm a collector, but I'm a shooter as well, and would like to be able to shoot the rifles I buy. My question is, is this one of those rifles that you wouldn't dare touch, leaving it in the condition it was found in and letting it be or would refinishing it ruin its collectors value. I'm more inclined to believe the latter, that doing anything but leaving the rifle in its original configuration would ruin it as a collectors piece. Keep this one in the safe, and get another one if you want to make it a project gun. Here's the auction http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=357430776 Thoughts?