The influence of brand value can be a loss maker. A concrete example comes from non gun items sold by top London gunmakers, such as knives, snap caps, thermos flasks etc. The exact same item with the name stamp can cost as high as tenfold the price of the plain unstamped item.
If the brand value follows similar percentages on guns, then the message for USERS not collectors or status seekers is ovious, avoid top brands like the plague!
The trick here is to be able to discern quality work. And also bear in mind that the same people often worked as outworkers for several makers so their work might well be present on the "lesser" gun.
A no name sidelock put together by top actioners, stockers, with locks signed "Ashes", case hardened by St Ledgers, at a price reflecting its no name status would do me nicely. But I do not want to impress anyone and do not expect to sell it at a profit. I am OK trusting my capital to guys like Buffet, not Purdey.
