Stan, thanks for your insights. Not to disagree with you though, all else being equal (grade/quality of gun, condition, etc.) aren't 10gas generally more rare than 12gas? As in fewer 10gas were made as Lefever F grades than 12gas, yes? All that being as it may, you're saying you still haven't noticed a difference in pricing?
Sincerely,
Vince
Glad you brought up Lefevers. As I recall without Elliott's book handy, approximately 70% are 12 ga., 15% are 10 ga., 8% are 16 ga., 6% are 20 ga., and less than 1/2% are 8 ga. I'm sure those numbers are close, but not perfectly accurate. But nobody knows for certain because the factory records are lost.
From what I have seen, the small bore 20 and 16 ga.guns command a healthy premium over a 12 ga. in equal grade and condition. But 10 ga. guns have little to no premium over the 12 ga. guns. Asking prices for 10's may be higher, but in no reserve auctions, they don't get the kind of money that their rarity might suggest. I've followed their prices for years.
8 ga.guns are so rare that even though ammo is much more expensive and harder to find, collectors will pay a huge premium for them.
