Re: Starting a basic LC Smith gun collection Archived Message
Posted by Tom Archer on May 30, 2017, 4:12 pm, in reply to "Starting a basic LC Smith gun collection"
Sure, you can do all the crap recommended above; but let me warn you that if you do, you will not find your trip nearly as educational and enlightening as learning the "old fashioned way".
So, since you are new and totally naïve to the fine art of collecting old double shotguns; I suggest you consider the following suggestions.
Make a point to attend every gun show you can possibly attend; to include, assuming you have the means, the really big shows in Vegas, Tulsa, Baltimore, etc. While there make a point to speak personally with every seller displaying vintage double guns to study their wares; and most importantly, to believe everything he might tell you regarding scarcity of grade, the high original unaltered condition of his guns, and how he's willing to give you a "Deal" and sell that piece well below retail. Don't worry about other opinions or reference books; after all, you didn't just fall off the turnip truck. You're a well-educated successful individual who's always enjoyed shooting, and who can now indulge his passion with a fine vintage double gun. And thus sufficiently armed with the necessary double gun "facts", your eyes eventually rest upon that double gun that appeals to all within your imagination. You notice that this piece is certainly far from new; you observe that it's stock finish is a little thin and worn, what appears to be a hair-line crack or two behind the lock plates, that the bores are dirty, that screw slots are a bit buggered and are out of line; but the danged thing feels like a "magic wand" in your hands, and it points exactly where you look every time you snap it to your shoulder. The dealer tells you its an 80% original gun, so who do you believe, the dealer or your lying eyes. Convinced this is THE gun for you, you open your wallet and a couple thousand dollars later you're driving home with a broad smile and visualizations of all the great times and incredible shots to come with your new best friend; and that's not to mention the bonus points from your envious shooting buds. Excitedly you get home and head to your man-cave to clean and polish your new-found treasure. So you break her down and decide you'll begin by giving those bores a thorough cleaning; and after repeated scrubbing with your brush and Hoppe's #9 you realize that "dirt" won't budge because the danged bores are pitted! Disappointed, but not dejected, you think to yourself; those are minor, they won't impact shooting at all and you continue wiping down the outsides of those sleek black tubes. But what the heck here, I just ripped a thumbnail; how'd I do that? Closer inspection reveals a portion of said thumbnail lodged under the top rib; where upon it is discovered those barrel ribs are loose! This is becoming an adventure and you begin to wonder what the heck else is going to be discovered as you remove the lock plates to inspect stock wood and find additional cracks in the inletting. So you next remove the stock from the frame and small pieces of wood fall onto your work bench. Suddenly your magic wand has turned into a disaster; no way you're going to shoot this piece, so now you're looking for a double gun smith to bail you out. You don't know any, nor do you have any idea as to their quality of work; but you get a recommendation from the local gun shop and send the piece off for repair, while in the interim visualize what a beautiful gun you'll have once it's returned. Six months later you get a call from the your out-of-state gunsmith; your gun is ready, send a check for $1000 plus shipping. You're shocked at the price; why it's twice as much as you'd thought. On no it's a fair price he says, and I actually gave you a break because I want to keep you as a customer. Well what did you do to the gun friend? Well I had to re-lay and re-solder the ribs; and because doing so destroyed what was left of your barrel bluing, I had to re-blue those tubes. And additionally, there were a couple of small dents I found and raised in the process. Your stock was a mess. I first had to degrease the wood; and after the wood was cleaned, replace some damaged wood in the stock head, then reinforce and glass-bed the inletted areas. I think you'll be able to shoot this gun now, provided you use very light loads of course; but that stock head was in such bad shape, I can't guarantee it'll hold up long term. And since I was forced to degrease the stock, and doing so removed all original finishes, I had to refinish the stock and re-cut your checkering; and to maintain the correct look, I also had to refinish and re-checker the forend. Believe me it was lots of work; but rest assured I treated you fairly on the price. So you pay the toll and a few days later UPS delivers your new gun. Excitedly you open the box and begin to remove the bubble wrap; but as soon as you begin to examine your newly repaired stock, your eyes lock onto the area around the lock plates where you notice that wood surfaces there have been over-sanded and that metal surfaces are now proud of the wood. You're sick as you know only a new stock could fix that problem; and suddenly you've fallen completely out of love with your prize. And now reconciled to your fate and determined not to have a gun you can no longer stand to look at in your safe, you check the calendar for the next gun show with the intent to be first in line and trade this "fallen lady" as soon as possible. They open the gate and one of the first dealers you see is the guy that sold you your gun; and lo and behold, he has there on his table the gun that you absolutely can't live without. So you check the price tag and say "what how will you trade on this gun I got from you a few months ago". Well, the dealer looks your gun up an down like it's been fished out of a sewer pipe; and he says we'll friend, you've really hurt the value of this gun!
And you say what the heck are you talking about, why I've improved the value of this gun at least $1K since you sold this wreck to me? But friend, the dealer says, you've refinished this gun and the fact that its been refinished has ruined its originality, and "collector's value". And besides, the barrels are pitted; why this gun is no more than "shooter grade" material now. I'd be lucky to get $500 for the gun at retail no;, but since I appreciate your business, I suppose I could give you $800 on a trade towards this other very fine gun. So after lots of back and forth, you buckle and you grudgingly do the deal; but don't leave until you've made it clear to the dealer, and to everyone within shouting distance that he's a crook, and you'll never spend another dime with him! So you're back home in the sanctity of your man cave, much wiser and lighter in the wallet; and you begin to polish your prize. And with the gun all cleaned-up and sparkling, you reach into your pocket and remove the little choke gauge you'd purchased at the show. But something must be wrong, both barrels register cylinder bore? The barrels of your newly acquired prize have been cut, and you realize you've been burned again! So you take your lumps again, but soon you're back on the prowl looking for that unmolested piece you so badly crave. You're determined that you won't make the same mistakes again, but unfortunately you're hooked; you now have the double gun disease, a terrible affliction for which the only cure is abject poverty. But the one thing to remember between the beginning of your quest and the realization of poverty is this lasting truth. You will have purchased your PhD in double gun knowledge; and although you will no longer be a "player" (i.e. buyer), you will forever be considered a double gun "expert".
I've tried to be humorous with this lengthy tale; but there is so much truth here that it can't be denied, for some of us have actually lived it. But the good news as you start your double gun safari is that you will have at your fingertips the benefit of knowledge that I and my peers never thought possible (much of which has been learned via our own research and collecting activities). My best advice to you Friend, and regardless of your collection theme, is don't buy a danged thing until you have read and absorbed every LC Smith related book you can find. You next go to every LCSCA sponsored event you can attend, and carefully study every gun on display. Be sure to ask lots of questions as to how to determine originally and percentage of case colors, metal finishes, wood finishes; and what constitutes after-market modifications, as well as how to spot a restored gun. Learn to ID the different grades from each production era, as well as the differences between grades features; as doing so will enable you to spot an original unique piece that was ordered and built with special features and outside standard grade parameters. Never be timid to ask the people here at the LCSCA forum questions, as these are people you know you can trust; and never take a dealer's word for anything, for if you do your homework you will immediately know grade and gauge rarity, be able to evaluate condition, and have a good idea what a similar gun is worth at retail. And finally, when you are ready to buy, purchase the nicest and most original gun you can afford; such a gun will always hold its value. Good luck in your quest. Tom
|
|