Long time, Mr. Mann. Glad to see you ticking over. I don't have to imagine as I have both guns. The 1911 BE I have had for several yrs. The gun upon which I lavished the classic "pool cost more than the house" restoration treatment. It never got its frame gussied up but barrels professionally rust-blued, checkering chased, new forend fit, wood refinished. Neither I nor my survivors will ever realize the money I have in it for the basic reason that's it's still an 11C$ gun with a 7C$ redo, and the usual rationale that the students of the art don't care for the early ejector train, an the final and very telling reason that the later "Teutonic" engraving patterns are more desired. As the BE Fox was produced for only a few yrs. by grade designation it is uncommon if not rare. The Sterlingworth Co. pin gun came along on a consignment rack in early '08. I will get my money back today, tomorrow, any day this month on that one as the stock head is absolutely solid inside and out, gun is tight, lever right, bores excellent, frame showing case turned grey except on top tang and other less accessible areas and also not "pecked" {dinged 'n pitted) as the S&W fellers like to say. Not a high condition gun but a solid example for 4 and a quarter. And since when did rarity matter (as in the case of the early BE)? I also have a Flues 4E with the "rare" lightweight swamped rib illustrated in MR. Snyder's I. from the Getgo. When queried about this rib, says Walt, "It's rare but nobody knows about it."
As for the Cult of Sterlingworth, clearly any SW pin gun (whatever the stamp on the frame) will encourage its owner to go for the gold asking mid-teens to mid-20's. Most of the ones I see are tired and abused. I'd probably go for an early CE (in the condition you describe) and add the bucks if I had em. Don't listen to me! I walked away from an unblemished Browning Sidelock with the "special" game scene engraving for $2900$. That was four yrs. ago. I'm certain that the gun, maintained in the same condition for four yrs, would have returned 30 to 50% on the purchase. Fool that I am, I passed even though I had the money because I knew I'd shoot it rather than lock it in a time capsule. I don't want to think about the fact that the 3 bills I might have "invested" in that one went for perhaps three 80 percenters. Love (and curiosity) are in the eye of the beholder but high condition guns bring the money. If the SW Co. pin gun is high condition, then it's not just a "sheep" gun LOL and will sell to big dogs. I also agree that you might want to invest in the SW.
jack
