A sweet deal sure doesn’t require perfection!!!
I'll concede this statement concerning this 16 ga. Model 21 is true, if you are in it purely for a profit motive. Nothing wrong with Capitalism if you aren't deceptive, and nobody forces some gun buyers to pay big money for garbage.
While this gun has been poorly buffed and refinished, I've seen many that are far worse sell for crazy money to suckers who are attracted to shiny objects, and don't know any better. A few years ago, I was amazed to see an 1895 Winchester .30-06 sell at a local farm auction for over $1800.00. It was buffed and polished almost beyond recognition, and hot blued. Lettering was almost gone, every sharp edge rounded over, pits polished out leaving dished out areas, and every screw slot ruined. The stock was heavily and poorly sanded, and the varnish finish looked like a kindergarten project. I felt its' only value was perhaps as salvage for some untouched internal parts. Yet several enthusiastic fools bid the price up many times its' value as a parts gun or ugly shooter.
I can recall a new guy proudly posting photos of his DS grade Lefever on the old Lefever forum. The title of the Thread was something like "Sweet Gun, or Over the Top?" He was soliciting comments about the gun he paid to refinish. It was also severely buffed with lettering about gone and every edge rounded over. The side plates and top lever were chrome plated, and the rest was hot blued. It was so bad it made me want to vomit. Only someone with the brain of a crow would find it attractive. But it was obvious he was proud of the gun he had totally ruined. Not one person responded to his post with the compliments he was seeking. I suppose nobody wanted to hurt his feelings or shatter his delusions. Yet in all my years of watching Lefevers in internet auctions, I've seen many that were just as poorly and garishly refinished sell for as much or more than sound original guns in average decent condition. The true value of a gun isn't what some discerning collectors say it is.... It is whatever some buyer, no matter how dumb, is willing to pay. A fool and his money are soon parted, and there is a reason many people live paycheck to paycheck. Proof of that can be seen in Jimmy's posts in the current "Checkering Needs to be Recut" Thread:
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=648268#Post648268That said, I would not be surprised if this Model 21 Winchester could be flipped for $3000.00 or more if it was resold closer to Fall, when more naive fools are actively shopping for guns.
