Posted by SGT on January 29, 2008, 5:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Grade I.D."
Friend, it's your money and the only advice I will ever give anyone when it comes to spending their money (not mine) would be to spend it on whatever thing, and in whatever fashion that makes them happy. When it comes to gun values, and a guy tells me he has paid/is willing to pay "X" dollars for a gun; I'll never advise him that the gun is too highly priced, or that he paid too much, might have done better; etc. If the buyer thought the price was fair at the time of purchase, or the gun he saw was fairly priced; then the buyer should be very happy with the deal, and I'm happy for him. Now on the other hand, if you asked me if I would be willing to pay $800 for a low-grade Damascus gun (of virtually any make) in the condition you describe above; then I'd have to tell you that my inclination would not be to walk away from that deal, but to run! I realize that prices for all vintage double guns are up (and getting higher); but I've got to believe I can still find any number of pre-1913 and later, standard 12-bore steel barreled 00 or Field Grade Smith guns still in solid shooting condition in the $500 range. If you want my advice, I'd tell you to do some more homework (check auctions, dealer ads, gun shows, etc); as I believe one can still find a more suitable gun for less money.