Mr. Simeone -Truth be told, Hunter couldn't do it for $40.00 in 1913. Had the market been able to bear another $10.00 then, Hunter might still be in business today.
I have mixed feelings about the 60's Marlin attempt. Had those guns been of equal quality to the real Elsee's and had Marlin marketed them differently, then they might have seen success.
What I'm getting at is that a Elcee is truly as nice as any domestic scattergun ever produced. Model to model it's every bit as good a product as Parker or Fox... Or others.
To market this type of gun to Remington 1100 aficionados (no insult intended) was not the best strategy. Marlin, perhaps, should have invested a few more dollars per gun and marketed it to those with enough cash to pay for a true classic.
My estimate? Probably you're correct. $3000 would get a Marlin Elcee. $4000 would approach a Hunter Elcee... And be worth every penny!
Best,
B.