doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Guild guns, no-namers and who-dun-its

In art, the unsigned work is just sofa art, can the same be said with the starving artist of the gun trade?

Your observation is wrong, but were it accurate, the answer to your question is no.

I have seen a number of totally unnamed German "guild" guns of excellent style and workmanship, many better, in fact, than factory high grade Sauers and/or Merkels. They seem to be being appreciated for what they are now more than in the past, with their pricing reflecting that. There are those unlearned dealers (or maybe unscrupulous) around who actually try to capitalize on the marketability of the "German Guild" name by claiming lower end named guns by relatively unknown gunsmiths as "guild" guns, when in fact they are not. Some of the German guild guns are of very fine quality indeed. I seem to remember one in particular owned by Doug Mann that is an exceptional piece.

This is no observation, it is the way it is!
It is the difference of a fine gun auction house, and a starving artist sales at the Holiday Inn.

I've never saw a very high quality un-marked gun or guild gun. I do think beauty is in the eye of the beholder, being able to spot quality comes with time...in the end one mans treasure is another mans trash.

Lowell, I actively buy art and have for a long time. I also consider a fine shotgun art of the highest form. I will offer that there are indeed some fine art pieces which are unsigned. In fact, in Rembrant's era, oil painter seldom signed their pieces. You are correct that a painting which is unattributed is not very valuable. But, it is certainly more than "sofa art." And, you can't shoot a painting. Jake

There is no guild or no-name guns in nature. Every gun been made by people. Every letter(s) besides proof marks means something. I remember there was exellent SLE 24G with name of one Belgium trade house name on it, but when we checked it by trade house s/n the gun turned to be made by Lebeau-Courally especially for this T-H.

Some of the most gifted American custom rifle makers never signed their work. Their work which is never signed is highly prized (expensive) as the work of makers who did the same level of work but signed theirs. The only difference is, the novice (such as yourself) does not recognize these for what they are.

The level of workmanship and artistic merit will determine the value of both rifles and shotguns regardless of the time period or country it was made in. If you are unable to recognize either it is best to stay with “Named” makers.

LG:

Yours is an uneducated analogy ....... A great many famous artists left their work unsigned. The work sells for millions and is treasured by museums and collectors. The work is recognized by it's quality and style and even when it is only attributed to the artist can sell for amounts that exceed the value of the Holiday Inn where you saw the sofa paintings. Although the value of craft is influenced by the intangibles added by marketing, brand, etc.. In the end, quality, rarity, functionality and beauty reward the knowledgeable buyer. Unfortunately a lot of paintings are made for the Holiday Inn trade ....... luckily this is not true in the gun trade.

Bouvier

Michael, it must be cozy for you to sit around and think you've found the prizes that most have pasted over.
...but so you say!
...and not easy to prove eh!
You can add titles, and fairytales to your guns/rifles - bet the dogs don't mind hearing them one more time.
When you start out with a blank page, the sky is the limit.