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.
Hi all, I think Dig hit it with his post. While all of us want an original untouched gun in great to mint condition, it's just not in the cards for all of us. Sure you can save and save and wait 2-3 years or more to get one (in the mean time the prices just go up)and something always happens that drain your funds. Or you can set your sights a bit lower and try and get a good decent gun and be able to shoot it and enjoy it while you can. The older we get, the less time we have to enjoy such things. Who knows what's going to happen to us in a couple years. God does, not me.
I guess I'd rather get a good gun (sleeved, reconditioned/refinished etc) and have fun rather than wishing I had.
I myself have no probelms with a sleever, if it's well done and the balance is the same or even close (sometimes it can be hard to tell on the balance thing, what works for one does not always work for another). Out of proof, questionable, but possible, same for thin bbls. As to refinished, does not bother me at all. I'd rather have a gun that's refinished well and yes looks good than one that looks like she's been thru the wringer. I've got some deals over the years with just such guns. They may not be perfect, but for me they shoot well and they have done great service.
As Dig more or less said, there is a gun for everyone and a market for every gun.
That said, thanks Dig for a great post!
All the best!
Greg
