Earlier posts as to makers names affecting the cost of their best work are incorrect. A Westley Richards could be retailed at 210 guineas when a Purdey sidelock was a little over 100. When a Purdey was 85 guineas, a W&C Scott best grade pigeon gun was 130.
Many makers offered 'best' guns and they were doing so before sidelocks became hammerless.
They were also doing so before sidelocks were generally adopted without shouldered actions.
Best guns were 'normal' guns built to the very highest standards. Many makers offered a 'Presentation' gun or an 'Exhibition' gun, which was more highly embellished with special carving, engraving or inlay. The decoration added to the cost, not the quality elsewhere.
You must look for best quality everywhere. Note that many American guns (I'm told this by american collectors) were the same internally regardless of grade. This shows they were not of the quality of the higher grades of British guns, which were far more complex, finely fitted, delicately filed and carefully burnished internally than the lower grade guns.
A best gun is not a cheap gun with better wood and more engraving. The quality is found throughout. There comes a point when you cannot improve on the quality, only add to the embellishment.
