Well, ya'll who know me here, know I'm never satisfied with anything. I always have to have a "new" project going. Here is what I'm working on:

1. New Sporting Clays Shotgun
2. New, high end AR
3. New rifle build by Derrick (Horizon)

Now I'm thinking about restoring my pre 64 Model 70, I bought last year. Most purists would call this blasphemy, I'm thinking about either having the original stock refinished or replaced with XXX wood and all metal re-blued to a "show" finish or Cerakote. The rifle is almost as old as I am and shoots better than most rifles out there.

What should I do and if restoring, who can do this work?

I guess that I am one of the purists... Leave it alone! It already shoots great, and has years of character already built in. I would "upgrade" by putting an El Paso Weaver K6 in some old Weaver rings and call it good. Collector value is maintained that way, as well...

Buzz,

One vote to leave that stock alone.

Accuracy Innovations can make you a new one with as nice of wood as you want and can afford with pillars and a bedding block in it. It will shoot better, look better, and the original stock can stay in the closet and come visit whenever you want to put the original back on.

Turnbull.

Don't do it. Buy a post-64 if you want to alter it. Of course, it's your gun and if you want to pay for it, I can do it for you, but you can expect it to be worth about half of what it's worth now.

I understand those that think it's blasphemous to mess with a pre 64 model 70 but yours it's not really in collectable condition. There are two ways to go original type rust blueing with redoing the stock or presentation blue and a new high grade stock. Do what pleases you the most. Very fine condition or rare calibers should be left alone, well worn examples can be upgraded, if it pleases you.

I could do it. Or we could go off the wall and turn it into a huge custom project.

What he said.

Depends if you want to keep it or sell it.
Here's one in 300 H&H. The wood was in horrible shape so I had it refinished in a flat oil finish by a very talented friend.

I love your stock, I think underneath mines finish is a pretty piece of wood like yours. I see you live in North Dallas. Does your "talented" friend live here also?

Based on the current condition of the stock and finish, redone with the original type rust blue and refinishing the stock with an oil finish, it'll be worth no less than the same. If it's done wrong then yes it might diminish the value.

No, unfortunately he lives in north Mississippi. He does outstanding work, but at his own pace, if you know what I mean...

I'm basing my opinion mainly on the fact that the gun is chambered in .243 instead of the more common .30-06 or .270. These are inherently worth less to begin with just because there are many more of them. Since this gun looks to be in very good condition, other than honest wear, I personally think that it would lessen the value to do a restoration on it.

As I stated though, I'd be happy to do it for him, but what is done can't be undone, just like the screw holes in the top of my early 50's Marlin 39A, which were also done (by me) to make the gun more functional.

Purist here.

Meh. Get it redone if it makes you happy. There's more to enjoying firearms than resale value. Especially if you plan to keep it for a long time. I refinished my model 99 and am happy I did so.

I'm 50/50 on it but if I were to do it I'd want the satisfaction of doing some of it myself (I did an old Model 12)....you should be able to find a very nice, pre-cut and inletted piece of wood you can finish yourself. For bluing, R. G. S. Gunsmithing in Nebraska (I think that's right) can do it in it's original finish.