Would appreciate your thoughts on whether to scope a 375H&H Flanged magnum made by H&H. Side lock dominion action.

1. Will it reduce the resale value?
2. Will the original stock configuration make the scope too high, guess I need to check that on the gun itself, its currently with JJ being restored!

I just feel that I will get more use out of it then if it were left unscoped! But on the other hand not sure if I should start drilling holes in a classic gun that has been used by my father and his father!

thanks for your thoughts.

Reddy375

Sir, put the drill down, and step away from the Holland...

IMHO
1) It would certainly reduce the resale value.
2) Scope would likely be too high.

Not knowing specifics of your rifle, those holes may cost you almost as much as a second hand scoped Chapuis in 9.3. Almost.

You can always drill hole. You can never undo it. I'd try and keep it as it were given to me.

Again, just my $0.02

K

Sell'er to me and get a DR with mounts already installed...I can still use "Irons" effectively.

...Don't do it!

JW

If you scope it, that gun will lose 30 to 50 percent of its value.

Oh God, you might as well draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa!! Stop you terrorist!!!

quote:

Originally posted by SG Olds:
Oh God, you might as well draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa!! Stop you terrorist!!!

The Mona Lisa already has a mustache; she is Italian, isn't she?

Keep the drill away from the Holland!

Your father hunted with it and your grand father.

I don't think your ever going to sell this. Make it work for you what ever that is and hand it down to your kids.

You cant hurt the value of something your not going to sell but if you ever did you can see what the responce has been from some of the potintal buyers.

I know where there is a H&H Dominion grade, sidelock in 8x57 (not rimmed, btw and .318 caliber and 28" barrel). It has claw mounts installed by H&H contemporaniously with original sale. Is it worth less therefore?

It would be if I'm buyin'
Brent

Well folks, since the rifle is being restored by someone other than H&H, the proper addtion of a period scope bases and rings, if done properly, is no draw-back unless the rifle is to be sold.

If it is to be sold, the restoration has already done the deed. I say if it will work better for you, and you do not intend selling the rifle, then talk to JJ, as I can't think of anyone better to do the work. Of course, if you had the restoration, and scope mounting done by H&H, with attending letter of repare, the value would have been inhanced! It's your call, and your rifle!

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
It has claw mounts installed by H&H contemporaniously with original sale. Is it worth less therefore?

Yes. IMO. But it would be worth a lot less if the mounts were added decades later. And worth still less if the mounts were not added by H&H.

The restoration alone will decrease the value of that fine jewel of a rifle. If you can, leave it alone. JJ will do a great job and most likely as good as H&H, BUT, IMHO if it you must restore it let H&H do all of the work if you are concious of the investment value. Family heirloom, get the work done by JJ and may it be enjoyed for generations with scope or no scope.

Gentlemen,

Thanks for your feedback. I am inclined to agree with you all and will put the drill down I have shot a lot of game with it using open sights so guess that will carry on!

For the sake of discussion. It seems the American way is to not restore an old car or gun as it looses its value. A friend of mine who collects old Rolls Royces (and also fine guns)was saying that this does not hold true in England.

If a car or gun is restored back to original condition and the work is done by the manufacturer or someone as good, then it is okay! And is perceived to be better than having an original piece that badly needs some TLC!

Thanks Again
Rddy375

I don't like to admit it, but there is a lot common sense in British logic from time to time. I'm happy to own a number of such shotguns and rifles that have been well cared for that way.

Brent

Thanks reddy375.

I am sorry I got so hysterical.

SG

Just picked one up and WILL have it re-ribbed to at least look "Original", not for sale's sake, but for my own sanity!!!

Uggh, scopes on Vintage DRs just don't seem right....Modern DRs that's a different story,

JW

1. Yes, it will reduce resale value.

2. Yes, original stock is for express sights so scope is too high.

Posted by Buliwyf

quote:

Posted 12 Feb, 11:30 AM Hide Post
Bill,

I don't have a double rifle.

Huh?

Who doesn't have a DR...Jim?....?

Bullwinkle

Why am I not surprised.

JW

Cronies Manion and Wemmer:

So what answer do you to two cronies have to the original post?

Bullwinkle,

quote:

So what answer do you to two cronies have to the original post?

What's a "to two" cronie? Doesn't have something to do with ballet, does it?

quote:

Would appreciate your thoughts on whether to scope a 375H&H Flanged magnum made by H&H. Side lock dominion action.

1. Will it reduce the resale value?
2. Will the original stock configuration make the scope too high, guess I need to check that on the gun itself, its currently with JJ being restored!

To answer the questions:

1) Resale value is now likely reduced as it is being restored from original condition. Unless the rifle was really, really trashed-out, original is always better. To add non-factory mounts to the gun in discussion would be a detractor from even the now reduced value of being restored - a negative, negative. A caveat to this is the fact that there aren't that many H&H .375 FLs just hang'n 'round, so, your rifle has good value in it, re-done or not re-done, mounts, no mounts, just not as much as say a rifle that was in 80 % or better "original" condition. However, some guys like perfectly restored rifles / shotguns and will pay dearly for them - you just have to run across that individual. Others like the totally original stuff...It's the same old "tastes great - less filling" argument and depends on which group of collectors we're talking about - in this case Pre-war English DRs which have several distinct sub-collector groupings. To the purists, this gun would not even come up for consideration. To the shooter-collector - maybe, to the Vintage-o-phile maybe again (they aren't particularly fond of scopes though), to the hunter-collector, definately if it could be bought right. So, is the value hurt by adding non-factory scope mounts - YES, but not as severly as it would be if you were adding these to an untouched and original conditioned rifle. What it all really comes down to is what do you want to do with the rifle? If re-sale in the near future is the intent - don't scope it. If you are intending to give her a second life afield - scope it and by the time you move it years from now, the market will have increased to the point that what is now a detractor will be offset by market price inflations. Eventually, you should come out ahead.

2) Not necessairly, but likely -It probably has too much drop. But, this really depends on the exact dimensions and how you weld your cheek to a rifle when using an optic - There is no B&W answer to this one - T&E is the only way to find out.

Per request!

JW

Bullwinkle,

I agree with my cronie with the following comments:

1. If this were in a caliber 450 or above, I believe adding a scope would most surely affect its value. However, a good set of claw mounts, especially if added by H&H (or commissioned by them here in the US) would not impact value much if at all, especially since the gun is going through a restoration and since it is not a "best" rifle. If done by a top doublemeister, there will be no regulation issues from the addition of a scope when you get the rifle back.

You see more and more doubles these days in 9.3 X 74 and 375 rimmed being mounted with scopes. It seems more and more people recognize that the capabilities of a double are in line with a bolt rifle of the same caliber. Plus the fact that a lot of old farts can see better through a scope versus iron sights.

2. See Cronie Wemmer's response. It depends what the current drop at comb is. In most doubles being scoped these days, there does not seem to be a comb issue with a low mounted scope.

By the way, just for your benefit, "T&E" is shorthand for "trial and error", and should not be confused with "T&A". Also, just for you, "mounting your trophy" is something done by a taxidermist, and is not an act you perform on the beast in the field.

I know those last two tidbits were not part of the original question, but I sensed you would eventually get there...

But it's still ok to T&E the T&A, right?

Especially if it's the "Ts" we see on "Fjolds" name tag!!!

WOW!!!

JW