LGS has a Coltguard SP1.

Finish is pretty beat up- ugly even.  Not even safe damage type beating, but "left in trunk too long" flaking.

Furniture looks OK though.

They want $1250.  I think that's high.   And I figure that IF the finish could be restored it would cost too much.  That's IF it can be restored.

Hmmm...rare yes, but ugly.  I donno, I get the feeling if I buy it I'm not going to like it.

What do you think?

Call Colt and ask them if they could refinish it and how much it would cost.

$1250 isn't too bad.  even for a late SP1, they run in the $1000-$1100 range.  there weren't that many made so even in a more used condition, it's still worth picking up.  there is a modern plating method that replicates the original finish but i think that would devalue it more than add to it.  it'll always be a refinished gun after that.

I would leave "as is". It adds more character to it.

Disclaimer:  I'm not a big fan or Coltguard in the first place.  

I would pass on it, unless they came way, way, WAY off their pricing, and not even then unless I could stand to leave it as it or just continued to use it as a don't-give-a-crap-about-how-it-looks beater.

You'll be better off with a nicer rifle, even if it costs more.  Should be able to pick up a "regular" SP1 for that kinda money.

some guy who works at ford's just posted in the last two months that he "created" his version of a colt guard ar 15.

i searched but i could not find the post, it was in retro land in the past two months. the gun looked great and everything
i have heard in the past says colt used ford's for refinishing atleast in the past.

the guy who posted works at fords and said he did it after work (i believe)

i have had several colt guard 1911 and personally felt they looked like shit, the scuffed easy. i ended up trading everyone
of them for regular nickel.

edit to ad - http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/654_775/products_id/716008908/used+Colt+AR-15+A2+Sporter+II

i just posted about this a min ago about the same price.

that was me

I think the owner said they used to do some guns for Colt but I honestly think it was the 1911 and Pythons in Coltguard, I can ask again when I go back to work on Monday...we currently do the finish on all Magnum Research Desert Eagles and nickel Cimarron's Single actions...we also do a blue that pretty close to the Royal Blue that Colt did.

we do regular customer guns as well but the wait time now exceeds 7 months

here is the thread, got buried...the finish looks a little different, but mind your when comparing it to an original your comparing 30+ years of oxidation and memory of what they would have looked like when new




http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_123/653241_My_R6007_SP1_Retro_Coltguard_clone.html

rentprop1

as i said i hate coltguard, but that is a fantastic job you did, you may be right
about the 1911's and pythons. before i got into ar 15's i collected colt 1911's
and single / double action colt revolvers so that is probably where i first learned
of ford's.

i have never personally had a firearm refinished, but i have seen several guns
ford's have refinished. the ones i have seen done by ford's there was no evidence
that they had been redone, just beautiful quality work.

op if you are thinking of having this done, of the firearms i have seen done by them
this is the place. again i have nothing to do with this place, just what i have seen and
heard.