Good study so far!!
OK, here is what I saw with the listing.
BUT what about those cut barrels? Somewhere between BV1-OQ5 1/2-CC7 or 8 = $1,600 or $1,000. Auction estimate lines up pretty well. So, I did my due diligence. Purdey's own the Woodward records and kindly confirmed it was a 30" barreled pigeon gun, bought-in in the white from W&S and sold Oct. of 1946 (that is relatively modern). Holt's confirmed the stock and engraving were better than usual, the action was sound, and the gun didn't appear to have been shot excessively. Previous research on my part showed this was the only boxlock pigeon Woodward ever made.
Intangibles. I have a modest collection of Woodwards and a substantial virtual collection of Woodwards. I suspect a mid-weight "pigeonish" gun would suit me nicely. I'm a collector-shooter and have a modest bias against non-OE guns.
Should I buy it with the understanding I will most likely need to sleeve it?
DDA
Don,
Nice to see the rest of the story on this gun. It looks like this gun is a niche for your collecting/shooting habits. You know what it will cost to sleeve it and put it back closer to its original specs. Did you buy it?
Ken
