Tweet
Re: Who makes the best 61 Springfield at this time...
Hallo!
Yes, when dealing with reproductions, it is always a matter of which is the "Best of the Worst" and to what extent can "some things" be done in the realm of "After Market" alterations to try to slide the needle a little further up the historically accurate gauge.
The second consideration is that lads who are not familiar or researched as to "originals" (the Gold Standard for how reproductions should be rated in how hit-or-miss they are compared to the original item) often praise and rate highly reproductions that fail the standard.
Even among ArmiSport and EuroArm reproductions there is also "generational" issues as both of these makers have changed their products over the decades since they were first introduced. So, when buying used, one may be looking at say 1996 example which is not the same as a 2006.
(For example I worked on a mid 1990's EuroArms with a thin stamped metal buttplate and thin stamped metal barrel bands that were spot welded to form the closed "loop" of the barrel bands.)
If it has not changed recently, exacting reproductions are only available as "custom-builts" (a long neglected, overlooked, and rarely utiized resource for improving the qualaity of our longarms).
Yes, they currently tend to run about roughly $1600 or so. However,
"pre owned" and "used" ones can sometimes be had for as low as $600-800.
(The last four of mine I sold for between $600-700, and a unfired Fayetteville rifle went for a steal at only $400 at an auction- less than the cost of the parts to build it.)
And yes... when one moves up the Sliding Scale of Imperfection, some lads
"retrofit" restored original parts to the Italian reproductions such as lockplates, hammers, and rear sights- or the exacting reproduction of those original parts made by Rich Cross (which helps with issues of high cost for mint parts, higher cost for restorable condition parts, or availability, etc., etc).
If I remember correctly.. Chattahoochie offered the SM1861 in all three of its maker variations.
And I thought that the Colt Signature series "Colt SM1861" was polished to chrome mirror finish. I had one on the rack for a few months but never thought to check to see if it was actually chrome plated as I sold it before "de-farbing" it. ;) :)
Curt
Hallo!
Yes, when dealing with reproductions, it is always a matter of which is the "Best of the Worst" and to what extent can "some things" be done in the realm of "After Market" alterations to try to slide the needle a little further up the historically accurate gauge.
The second consideration is that lads who are not familiar or researched as to "originals" (the Gold Standard for how reproductions should be rated in how hit-or-miss they are compared to the original item) often praise and rate highly reproductions that fail the standard.
Even among ArmiSport and EuroArm reproductions there is also "generational" issues as both of these makers have changed their products over the decades since they were first introduced. So, when buying used, one may be looking at say 1996 example which is not the same as a 2006.
(For example I worked on a mid 1990's EuroArms with a thin stamped metal buttplate and thin stamped metal barrel bands that were spot welded to form the closed "loop" of the barrel bands.)
If it has not changed recently, exacting reproductions are only available as "custom-builts" (a long neglected, overlooked, and rarely utiized resource for improving the qualaity of our longarms).
Yes, they currently tend to run about roughly $1600 or so. However,
"pre owned" and "used" ones can sometimes be had for as low as $600-800.
(The last four of mine I sold for between $600-700, and a unfired Fayetteville rifle went for a steal at only $400 at an auction- less than the cost of the parts to build it.)
And yes... when one moves up the Sliding Scale of Imperfection, some lads
"retrofit" restored original parts to the Italian reproductions such as lockplates, hammers, and rear sights- or the exacting reproduction of those original parts made by Rich Cross (which helps with issues of high cost for mint parts, higher cost for restorable condition parts, or availability, etc., etc).
If I remember correctly.. Chattahoochie offered the SM1861 in all three of its maker variations.
And I thought that the Colt Signature series "Colt SM1861" was polished to chrome mirror finish. I had one on the rack for a few months but never thought to check to see if it was actually chrome plated as I sold it before "de-farbing" it. ;) :)
Curt
Comment