I think most have not figured it out. IMO, you must factor the value the maker's name adds, the original quality of the gun, and the current condition. The big hitter here is to totally separate the name from the original quality. In so doing, you recognize that "highly thought of names" retailed some relatively pedestrian quality guns and "little knowns," in some cases, retailed some best work guns. A farmer gun is a farmer gun and a best work gun is a best work gun, in both cases reguardless of the name. Most want to use the maker's name as a shortcut to quality. That does not work. For example, Reilly retailed somebest work guns, but most were of lower quality. Therefore, we can't make a blanket statement such as, "Reillys are great guns." Stocking to the fences is a fashion and not a reliable indicator of quality. There are plenty of 1880's and '90's Boss and Woodward best work guns that disprove that a gun must be stocked to the fences to be best work. I do account for value of a best work gun (often stocked to the fences) as opposed to an "A," "B," or "C" grade SLE (often not STTF).
