Congrats on your win. I was also bidding on that gun and didn't go higher because of the cut barrels. Dumb, because I have a set of fluid steel 28" barrels in the 55K serial number range. I had also e-mailed the seller and suspected the gun was nicer than the pictures showed. I thought the engraving was pretty cool, especially the flying turnip. Less than an hour later, I regretted not bidding more on the F Lefever when I made a healthy bid on another gun and was high bidder, but didn't meet the hidden reserve.
I've bought a few guns off the internet. A couple were just as described and one was much better. But I still feel better actually being able to examine the gun in hand vs. paying FFL transfer fees and shipping charges both ways in exercising a 3 day inspection. On the other hand, some of the poorly lit gun shows I've been to can throw you. I'd have sworn a Grade 2 L. C. Smith I bought many years ago was fluid steel and not reblued Damascus. I noticed that at home only after closer examination in bright sunlight... after I fired a couple high brass factory field loads through it.
