Fair enough-- so keep one of these "Steinways" and sell the other for reasons personal to yourself. OK-- if I were looking at your situation like a gun dealer (buy low, sell higher) I'd consider selling the one that puts more dinero in your wallet in today's market.
The last double gun I bought, about 12 years ago was a Utica mfg. Fox Sterly 20 gauge, 28" barrels, DT, AE. I had hopes of MI getting a legal dove season, so I bought this privately from a former grouse and woodcock hunter, near Baldwin, MI/ . The last double gun I sold was a 16 gauge Parker PHE- 28" Damascus barrels, size O frame, to a dealer in Sagola, MI.
The Fox shows brush wear, bluing wear on the barrels near the forearm, stock shows scratches, buttplate slightly cracked, but it shoots like gangbusters, and I consider the wear to be like "battle scars" and have never thought about a refinish-- same as on my M12's--
Sometimes emotion enters the equation, a concept the serious gun dealers try to avoid in either the buy or sell mode. That emotion comes up whenever I handle a Winchester or Colt left to me by Dad or Grandpa--
If you are NOT in a hurry (best frame of mind to have in making such a decision (IMO anyway)- I'd wait a while into the bird season before making the judgement call you have scheduled. Good luck on the Ruffs whenever your season opens. RWTF
