I applaud your idealism but I believe the economic realities of this area of gun collecting and the cost of just "one" such restoration project, will quickly illustrate my point to you. Those of us who have been doing this many years and have spent untold amounts of money [as our wives constantly remind us] are always glad to have collectors such as yourself, who are obviously willing to take on projects such as this that basically entail, jacking the old rifle up and driving a new one up under it. Since these rifles are in some ways supposed to reflect "investments" of sorts, I could not carry on this hobby very long, if every rifle I bought ended up costing me twice or thrice what it is worth. I am not advocating this wonderful pastime be reduced to the bottom line alone, however neither can it be ignored when making decisions on these wonderful old works of art, in a marketplace where I have paid well over $300 just for a 4oz. pristine, new in the box LYMAN 1A WINDGAUGE COCKING PIECE SIGHT for a 1903 Springfield. I believe most of the experienced collectors out there while maybe not agreeing 100% with me, have most likely arrived at about the same place as me, on this issue. I wish you luck and warmest regards, however you decide to collect these wonderful old rifles. Jerry
Believe me, I do not disagree with anything you have said. Go out and commission a $10,000 custom rifle today from one of the top makers and you will loose 50% the day you bring it home. Heck we all got to have a hobby, sure is more fun than spending it on a boat. Also, I want to be able to enjoy these things without having to wait until people like Michael, yourself, and my dad are gone.
All that being said, I do not know what the reserve price is on the rifle in question, but it would have to be not much more than the starting price for it to be even make a little sense.
John
