Hj - It is a system for making a quick estimate of the value of a Brit or Continental SXS guns of 1890ish to 1960ish vintage of 12 gauge in the USA retail market; DR, small bore, extra finish, O/U, etc. can be less reliably estimated with a multiplier. It also works for deciding if the price asked seems to fit to the gun in hand. It has 405 pigeon holes of value in five layers of nine by nine (81 pigeon holes each) charts. The five layers are based on the Brand Value (BV1 to BV5) attributable to the maker's name. The 9X9 charts are based on simplified Original Quality level (OQ1 ("best" grade) to OQ9 (farmer/colonist grade)) by simplified Current Condition level (CC1 (pristine) to CC9 (wall hanger)). It will generally place guns +/- 10%.
Originally, I worked on the concept to help "organize" the guns in my mind. As I worked, I realized that there was an organization within the market. The problem was that most people never see guns in an organized presentation. Without organized data, it takes a lot of guns to begin to make a picture of the market. The current idea is to jump-start the understanding of how the guns lay out and what prices the markest ascribes to which guns.
To those addicted to the magic of Brit/Continental guns, sorry. I realize that this is about like showing up at a Harry Potter convention carrying a science book. But, I personally find plenty of room for both scienc and magic in my life. I just prefer to get down toward science in financial dealings.
For those who have spend a fair bit of their live learning to intuitively judge values, I think this system helps. Commerce usually does much better in the presence of information.
