There are only complicated answers to the questions put forward. The reason is that the shooter is, at minimum, 50% of any answer. Shooters are more individualistic than guns; make and model fairly well define a gun other than custom made.
Handling is defined by weight, teeter-totter balance, unmounted swing effort (MOI at balance), and mounted swing effort (MOI at butt). Post back if this subject is due further discussion. It is, by the way, an objective/fact based subject.
"Best" of any category of product has its foundation in the British/European system of trade made goods. The rich Victorians and Edwardians were nuts over "Best work" goods. It was well understood that "best" meant the highest quality/prestigious money could buy. This system "came a-tumblin' down" compliments of two world wars. "Best" is pretty well defined by best design, materials, workmanship, and aesthetics/fashion for the given time. Keep in mind that the last few % of quality is very disproportionately expensive. Each of the items in the foregoing factors had
a limited number of trade masters who had a limited amount of best material to work with. Post back if we need additional discussion on this subject.
The trade was made up of numerous shops/companies run by a master (usually) and each employing all the in-workers (employees) it could afford and out-workers (contractors) as needed. Companies expanded and contracted with the economy, prosperity, and fashion. Reputations rose and fell as they usually do with time and changing management. Additional discussion?
Since we discuss mainly used guns we can take a quick look at values. Brit and Continental guns can be reasonably accurately valued by using the Brand Value level (BV), Original Quality grade(OQ), and Current Condition(CC) and a look-up table based on past auction hammer price results. Questions?
OK, there is an outline of info that may or may not be useful to some of you.
