I almost got taken on an upgrade by a well known dealer a few years back. I bought a 20 gauge Grade IV Browning super, long tang round knob with 28 barrels IC/Mod that I was told was factory engraved and as new......a rare gun indeed if original with the fox and hound engraving. I paid big money for this thing, mind you. Well, I got the gun and the first clue was it had the wrong buttplate for that vintage gun. I made a few phone calls and talked to Rod Fuller in Nebraska who knew the gun, knew it had recently been sold and the dealer who bought the gun was told it was an Angelo Bee upgrade at the time. Glen Jensen confirmed the gun originally was a Grade I sold in San Francisco, CA (I dont remember the date). Nevertheless, this dealer was trying to defraud the general public with a counterfeit. The dealer did give me a full refund when I had him caught red handed, but I have had a bad taste in my mouth since. Oh, and by the way, the quality of the engraving by Bee was really superior to many factory jobs! And no, Im not going to reveal who the dealer is on this public forum, but after this deal, I have NO use for upgrades. Also, no one is pointing a finger at Bob accusing him of wrongdoing, but as jOe mentioned, 50 years from now when the gun is far away from Bobs care, thats when the waters will get muddy as to whats original and what isnt.
