I remember those ads also, Larry. Thing is, there was no internet, and you couldn't see the guns he was talking about.
Things have changed.
I don't have a "collection". I have an "accumulation" and a few of those are like my 16 gauge Nitro Special-a gun that was truly unused, with stock and action in 99+ % condition, and the barrels covered with furry rust on the outside. Bought cheap, reblued, and not a lot of money outlayed. If a dealer comes up with one like that, he will want most of 1K for it, and it is buyer beware. Warms my little heart knowing what it was before the barrels were reblued.
I'd rather be the guy who finds it before the dealer.
Best,
Ted
Ted, I also found a Nitro Special (mine was a 16ga) in pristine condition, before everything was on the Net. Little shop down in MO. Someone told me about it. Supposedly came out of one of the big gunstock outfits down there (maybe Bishop) before they went out of business, used as a pattern gun. Darned hard to find one of those somewhat cheaper than the big name guns made by Ithaca or Elsie that's in that kind of shape. In the more modern category, I remember when Cabela's came up with about 8 or 10 brand new Miroku sxs (not marked Daly), PG/splinter/DT. I think they were all 20's. Very nice guns, and given what was available new on the market at that time, probably worth the thousand bucks or so Cabela's was asking for them.
