My son bumped into a possible deal. SN: 1722725 supposed to be from 1950, said it seems to be in near mint. I'm wondering if it's been refinished?
What value shoul I consider it at? If it's original but what if it's "restored"?

Checking the number it is a 1950 production, 20" barrel, there were 98,195 made. It has a metal stippled but plate.

If it has been refinished its a $400 to $500 gun. Looks like a standard gun with no special orders, so could be double the refinished price if correct.

Judging from the pictures, it has been refinish, both wood and metal..I wouldn't touch it myself. That model in good condition and original will fetch about $400 to $450 around here.

Sure looks refinished to me.

easy check, are all the stampings crisp and almost a knife edge to the edges?

It could be original, my brother-in-law has a 25-35 94 rifle made in 1926, that looks that nice that has a known provenance. Not refinished.

Why not just pay market value and go slay whitetail?

I do not know if your gun is refinished,but I sold one that was not refinished in that shape for $900.00 .It was made in 1952.

It definitely looks like a reblue; original factory blue is not shiny and all edges are crisp; they buffed out the screw holes which means it was a non-professional buff job; $400 as a shooter. On a good day. BTW, that is one of the later long forearms made before they switched to the short one.

I agree with dpcd and a couple of others, definitely refinished. Shooter value only- $400 tops in my area.

Agreed, I would sell that gun for $495 retail.
Not a collector but a good shooter.