i expect that most (if not all) of those who spend their time here are motivated by enthusiasm for the guns. but, i was told many years ago (by a wise old motorcycle mechanic) that the surest way to ruin a hobby was to do it for a living. and i suspect that in the upper reaches of the collectors gun world there's a tendency to start looking at them as merchandise...and money as a way of keeping score.
but i'll offer a story that illustrates that "what goes around...comes around".
i live about 100 miles east of herschel chaddick's place of business. probably about mid 90's there was a newspaper report detailing the theft of three "very valuable shotguns" from a man from terrell.
after asking around a bit, i learned that someone had called and asked many questions of chaddick re: particular shotguns he was offering for sale. in the end, he agreed to bring three of them for the buyers inspection to an agreed hotel. they were to meet "first thing on the morning", and chaddick got a room for the night before, and left the guns locked in the trunk of his cadillac.
upon arising, he discovered the trunk open...and the three guns gone the way of the passenger pigeons...
an old leon russell song included a verse that pleases me yet today..."don't let money turn you into a billfold"...
