Good question Mr. Glenthorne! Makes me wonder too sometimes. They must be a quite secretive group, because I never see posts like "Just got my royal .410ga pair from Lewis Drake today" or "What wood did you choose for your new Paradox gun?". Im sure we have some board members who would drop a 100k on a fine purdey or fabbri, but then again if I was spending money like that I guess I wouldnt be shouting to the world how rich I am. As far as being outbid by phone, well, maybe it was by a close "friend" of the auction house. When you know the right people, its amazing what you can accomplish. Tell you what, if I ever order a new Purdey hammer gun or the new H & H Paradox, Ill let you know, and Ill post pictures. Im afraid that by the time that I have enough money to even put a down payment on one of those, the internet and this fine bbs will be old technology and long forgotten! sigh, if I was only the son of a rich Texas oil barron. I could have all the high grades of all the fine makers