Phil:
No, not at all......it has been my life's experience that something very nice
ALWAYS sells for more than something so-so or dirt bagged.....
I guess that in the world of "non-shooting" collector guns, i.e. SAA Colts, the original finish is desired...no matter how nasty it is......rust included.......the better the original finish, the higher the price......but these old shotguns are not worth a large sum of money anyway........
To quote the "cut 'em up" crowd..."It's my gun and I will do with it as I please"......
Here's some LC Field guns that I restored completely, cc, rust blue and wood....checkering touch up as needed......top to bottom are a 12, 16 and 20 ga, all lettered with Cody so I know the original barrel configurations etc......and all original parts including wood, new firing pins being the exception.....
No final finish ever in the checkering if you want it to look and be original, stain and light oil only.....see the forearm pictures above....days of soaking the wood in Acetone and Lacquer Thinner alternately until all the old oil is removed......epoxy and steel pin the head of LC stocks, which are weak up front and they will shoot for years without cracking.......with correct loads of course......
The 16 in the middle was special ordered with fancy wood and 22 LPI pointed checkering per the Cody letter....and is quite nice for a field gun....
All I can say is that wherever I go, people are always trying to buy them......and for pretty tall prices.....but they are not for sale.......
