Stan, Anyone who buys and sells 100 guns in a few years is a bit more than a hobby enthusiast. Sure, they like the guns, but they like the money more. I think Bob should be banned from selling guns here since hes at least as much as a self admitted hobby gun dealer here, just like Ed Good who does not list his guns here. In terms of Art Isaacson, he clearly lists what he does and does not misrepresent himself; so no sentimentality there. . He does not list guns for sale here so thats another story....hes a pro, so sentimentality is likely not part of the equation. My point is, theres no sentimental attachment in what Bob does, its purely profiteering. If he did the work himself as a hobby it might be different.
You are pretty certain of your assessments of Bob's motives in upgrading shotguns. He is a profiteer, IYO. How can you be so certain that he doesn't get a real satisfaction from making something better, and then, because he has other means of financial support, can price it so that it nearly always sells at a profit? Is there some higher ground here, for people who fix up a gun and then sell it at a loss?
Also, the assumption is being made that he always sells the ones he restored/upgraded. How can you be so certain of that? We do not all approach this hobby with the same desires, or the same enthusiasms. As long as he is not ruining guns with torches and ham-handed work I say "bully for him".
I hardly see selling an average of 5 guns a year as being a business. Whether or not he is abusing the forum's "For Sale" section is for Dave to decide, and I'm fine with whatever he decides. As much leeway as he cuts most of our off topic crap, I see no reason to deprive this forum of the ability to get an early crack at nice guns that might be offered by someone who moves more of them than you or I. That's just my opinions.
Best to you, SRH
