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Joined: May 2015
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Busy day, I needed this. Key selling point:

"Hand polished with steel wool."

It wasn't rough-scraped with a wire wheel and buffing wheel like all your other guns are. No sir, this one was lovingly, carefully, scuffed...er..."polished"...with steel wool...by hand. This is an artisan skill, the hallmark of someone with a keen eye for quality and a meticulous aesthetic.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...amascus-2-3-4-quot-.cfm?gun_id=101739133


NDG

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looks like the camera lens was also buffed

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Amazing what some sellers hope a buyer will believe isn't it. Doesn't appear to be close to an 85% gun to me either, and he's way off with the mfg. date; the serial number and gun features date that gun to about 1897-98, certainly not 1905-07.

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Originally Posted by topgun
Amazing what some sellers hope a buyer will believe isn't it. Doesn't appear to be close to an 85% gun to me either, and he's way off with the mfg. date; the serial number and gun features date that gun to about 1897-98, certainly not 1905-07.

I saw that too, Tom. I just kinda glossed over that and his manfacture range after his steel wool comment. On the condition thing...I've never really decided whether people who miss obvious, glaring flaws are just purposely skating past, trying to sell the item? Of if they honestly just don't "see" it, because they don't possess a meticulous enough interest. I used to be certain is was most the former, but after some eye opening interactions, I now believe it's the latter. A large number of people just don't "see" a lot...even stuff that to you and I would be glaringly obvious.

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75% of the wood is still attached to the gun?

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We probably need a sticky with an unofficial glossery.

Buffed/sanded/stripped barrels = "hand polished"
Cut shotgun barrels = "coach gun" or "cowboy gun"
Cut rifle barrels = "carbine" or "saddle gun"
85% gun = "minty"
70% gun = "excellent"
50% gun = "club gun"
35% gun = "servicable" or "shooter"
utter trash = "gunsmith special"
not even uncommon = "scarce"
uncommon = "rare"
rust = "patina"

NDG

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"A large number of people just don't "see" a lot...even stuff that to you and I would be glaringly obvious."

And it seems a fair number of dealers can't "see" it either, although I'm convinced they do; it's just that the profit motive is more important than personal integrity. Some may be aware of a recent northeast auction where the highlight was to be a 16-bore LC Smith Deluxe; one of only two produced. Well interestingly, it just so happens that there was another, and different 16-bore LC Smith Deluxe with the same serial number that sold at auction several years ago. So the auction company was advised that the gun they had for auction was a duplicate serial number and most likely a fake; and the photos I saw revealed that the gun was indeed an obvious fake. Not wishing to risk their reputation, the auction house revised their description to accurately reflect the gun and it sold for $15K (the auctioneer had advised me that he had received one bid of $250K prior to the gun being exposed as a fake). Now here's the kicker; the gun was being sold by the widow of the owner who had been suckered by an LC Smith "expert" into believing the gun was authentic, and therefore well worth the $120K he paid. He'd purchased this and several other now suspect Smith guns from the same individual, paying big bucks in the process; and did so going to his grave convinced that the sale of his collection would be a great retirement/nest egg strategy for his wife and kids. Obviously his widow is pissed! I understand she had already contacted the seller who still claims that that gun was "right in every detail". I know this seller and he has probably owned and sold more Smith guns than anyone living. Based on what little I know, I'm inclined to believe a fraud was committed by the seller, but I'm not an attorney? I've no idea as to the eventual outcome of this situation, but the seller has already been advised by the widow that he will be hearing from her attorney.
I've no idea how many faked high-grade Smith guns there may be floating around; but I'm aware of this gun and a fake A-3 twenty gauge. Both were sold by the same dealer and I understand the A-3 was sold for six figures also. This kind of stuff saddens and frustrates me personally, especially when this individual is a member of the LCSCA; an organization in which I've been deeply involved for so many years as regards promoting the organization, and in research of the Smith gun. I'll never say a high-grade LC can't be faked nowadays, as anything is possible; but with the detailed information we now have available, doing so will be extremely difficult. Faker's simply fail to address all the minute details.

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well worn with lots of dings and scratches = character

if you are selling, refinished = restored

if you are buying, refinished = redone

high priced = collectible

unusual = unique

i like it = wonderful

price recently lowered = bargain

i could not find another one like it = rare

i like the way it looks and handles = delightful

no obvious flaws = nice

i like the way it looks = cool

nobodys altered it = original

made prior to ww2 = classic

looks pretty good = fine

if you are selling, old gun = collectible firearm

if you are buying, old gun = old gun

Last edited by ed good; 11/15/21 11:33 PM.

keep it simple and keep it safe...
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Tom,

WOW, a member of LCSCA, no less. That's problematic. Especially if the seller is someone on who's word collector advice is dispensed. And the problem is, not everyone will know. I mean, I see a certain fallen 'engraving book author' quoted everywhere there is mention of a famous engraver, and I think to myself...even if he really did have true knowledge and expertise...how can one believe any of it without suspecting now? How much of what he wrote was just made up to make himself sound like an expert?

Between shysters value profit over reputation, and genuinely crazy people who covet forum thread notoriety..."Beans" is NOT the only one...he just blew up the loudest, but he's still active on other forums and guys there have no idea he's 3 beers shy of a 6-pack. One of our own LACA guys almost went down a wormhole with that dude...had him hooked on some secret oddball connection between Dan Lefever and L.C. Smith, or some such nonsense. It's enough to make me sour a bit on collecting doubles. I find myself spending more time with vintage 22s. There isn't enough money in them to attract serious collectors (yet), so dealers only dabble. Ammo is cheap, and it doesn't require a drive to 'the club' to go shooting.

Besides, I've about had it with 'concerned' guys running up to me with 'safety advice' about shooting Damascus guns every time they see me dusting the course with one of my Lefevers. The last guy was in my party, and he stood 30 feet away each time I shot...amazed I just didn't seem to be dying.

"Because my brother-in-law, he told me a story about a guy...you can read it on the the internet, just Google..." confused

I've given up explaining. I just say something glib, like "wow that's crazy...you should definitely stand further back, then." I can't recall his name...Randy something...a gun writer. He's often quoted in these encounters, so he must be a 'leading light' of Damascus knowledge.

All the same, my guns just stubbornly refuse to blow up. So miraculously, I'm still here.

NDG

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if something is too good to be true...it probably is not...

such as...very rare double guns, black powder colts and winchesters... and of course confederate guns...all in excellent condish...

Last edited by ed good; 11/15/21 11:44 PM.

keep it simple and keep it safe...
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