This weekend I won a pre WWI era Marlin '94 deluxe rifle at a local auction. The auction only provided one image of the right side, and I broke my own rule of not bidding without good pictures, or going to look at a gun. I had little notice, so no time to go look.
I bid half of what I thought it was worth in an absentee bid, and it closed at 2/3 of what I bid, so I was surprised and excited. I went yesterday to pick it up, and got another surprise. A crack in the wrist on the left side that was nicely repaired. Appears to be a very old repair, and I can make it look even better with some work. But it does reinforce my previous rule of looking first. But if I had looked, I'd still have bid the same, and been happy with the purchase. It is a stunning piece, and in very nice condition for 111 years old.
