Some people won't buy a sleeved gun.
Some people won't by a gun with barrels less than 30 thou thick.
Some people won't buy a re-stocked gun.
There is a market for everything, some people aren't in it.
Let's test this.
Those of you who won't buy a thin walled gun. If I offer you a Purdey sidelock with sound barrels down to 18 thou for 100 would you be interested?
How about the same gun with sleeved barrels for the same money? Those of you who won't buy a sleeved gun - A sleeved Purdey for 100?
I reckon you are all interested right?!
There will come a point where the thin walls or the sleeving, being other than your ideal of good thick original barrels, will cause you to lose interest. What is that point: 120? 500? 5,000? The point will come. and it will come a lot lower than the point at which you would be interested in the gun with thick original barrels.
However, in the market, some people cannot have everything they want for what they are able to pay.
You want an English side-lock for 4,000. You can't have a first quality original condition London gun in case with all accessories because nobody will sell you such a gun for the money you have.
So, you set your sights according to your budget. Some will go for a thinner walled gun, some for a sleeved gun, some for a lower quality gun. Each decision is personal but there is a place in the market for everything. You pays your money and takes your choice.
A sleeved gun is clearly 'worse' than an original gun in terms of value but not in terms of performance if the job has been done properly. The 'worse' tag relates to the ideal being in perfect original condition. As a gun gets further from this ideal it becomes less expensive.
Last edited by Small Bore; 01/20/11 12:59 AM.
