The really nice stuff has, and will have, value. Think big three from Olde Blighty, the highly decorated Foxes and Parker’s that show up having been unused for 100 years, etc. The stuff we use, has been on a trajectory into the dust for quite some time. Just having the name guarantees nothing, here in flyover country when I see a sidelock from London for sale, it more often than not is pretty clapped out.
I’m OK with that, by the way. I’ve never completely understood how a bespoke item goes up in value when the person who spoke up for it exits this vail. I’m happy I got to live and shoot in the era of rediscovery of the SXS gun, after the storm of the repeaters, most of the fathers in my neighborhood never looked back from, and I enjoyed that rediscovery immensely. Watching the kids on the trap leagues that my high school aged son participates in, I highly doubt there will be another double gun renaissance, and if there is, it will be a whimper compared to the boom I got to see. I made and lost a buck or two on guns, and it was fun while it was happening. But, I see no reason to believe I should venture my hard earned capital on the belief that it is a growth industry. It ain’t.
The gun grabbers started at the scary (to them) end of the gun evolution line, and, despite trying mightily, never got traction. We have a second amendment because without one, it becomes obvious rather quickly that you really don’t have a first amendment, no matter what the “cum by ya” people believe, if there isn’t a second to back it up. History is clear. Would they have been after those old doubles if they had managed to get traction on banning something, anything, they didn’t like?
Absolutely. Again, history is clear. The constant reference to “It’s a good start” is not hyperbole, it is a way of life.
I think we are entering an era when you can play with left behind good quality boxlocks in good 100 year old condition, for just a bit of scratch. We won’t likely profitably sell them, and, most of us don’t care. They will end up elsewhere the same way they ended up with us.
Best,
Ted
