The issue is in market value. Americana guns have most of their value in original condition. Collectors prize originality. "Origanility" can be difficult to prove/disprove. This is now street knowledge. SOooooo, both buyers and sellers live in fear of somebody's voodoo repair/restoration puttin' the hoodoo on their wallets. I don't see any real solution to this issue.
Any money spent above utility value of a gun makes you that much a collector. Nuttin' wrong with that as long as you admit it to yourself and face up the the consequences. You require education/information. And, you need a trustworthy mentor. One of the best things you can do is buy yourself a good example of an OE gun and use it as a benchmark for future purchases.
An older, very well done restoration is very hard to be sure of and will likely lead to a debate. Mostly, you have to look at enough guns to develop a "gut feel" for what is original and what is aftermarket. Go to a lot of gunshows without your wallet. The probabilities of missing the bargain of a lifetime are a lot lower than the probabilities of making an unwise purchase. Research, research, research. Continuous research! Other than that, good luck!
