Model 21: That is a very nice A Grade; you done good my friend! As FYI, what is the serial number? I can make out the numbers "2531"; but can't decipher the last digit. If it's 25317; then yours would be the A Grade featured in the 1902/1903 catalog; which example is also a Damascus barreled gun. These Syracuse catalogs depicted actual guns; but only two serial numbers are legible, the numbers for the Grade A and D guns. The Grade D gun has been located, and is exactly as depicted within the catalogs; I'm still looking for the Grade A, and I hope yours is it!
Max: I haven't seen an A Grade for sale very recently, but the last example I saw was an obviously poorly restored/refinished 12-bore Damascus gun with leather pad priced at $3K; to me it was a $500 gun. I haven't purchased an A Grade in some time; but have purchased several examples over the years ranging in price from $75 to $1200. If I were to pay more than $1200 for an A Grade Syracuse, that gun would either have exceptional condition, or be a rare 16 or 20-bore. A Grade SAC guns are not extremely rare; and if you are looking for an A Grade SAC with the on/off device, remember that those examples manufactured before 1902 will not have the ejector on/off switch unless factory retro-fitted post production.
CZ: The gun pictured above is a very rare model, as the A-1 Special Trap was not cataloged until 1902, was expensive at $125; and was only in production thru early 1905 when production ceased. A friend of mime tried to purchase that gun, but there was another bidder at the auction who refused to throw in the towel. As both the stock and barrels of this example have been shortened, it is my opinion that the final hammer price was an aberration and represented more than the actual value of the gun. 2-3 weeks after that auction had ended the new owner, a gentleman from Florida, tracked me down to discuss the gun. Bottom line, this individual had gotten so charged (if that's the right word) over reading the DGJ Syracuse articles that he had determined he would own this graded example and would not stop bidding until he won that auction.
Tom
