All the Monk guns I have handled or read about have shown that Monk followed relatively closely the Trade " standards" for price vs quality. Pretty much that says a gun will be honest in that it will be what it looks like and price indicate. I think Monk guns of "best work" quality are quite rare. Not that Monk's could not have gotten out a "best work gun," had a customer placed a bespoke order. Monk's would have gone to the trade/outworkers who were capable of "best work" (and charged accordingly) to make up for any lack within his inworkers. A Monk brand midgrade sidelock or boxlock will be of the same quality as any other Brit brand. Its price, however, will be 1/2 of a Brand Value One maker (Boss, H&H, Purdey, or Woodward) and 2/3 of a Brand Value Two maker (17 makers in this level) for "identical" Original Quality Grade and Current Condition.

DDA