A real piece of history

[Bristow Kid]

While monkeying around on the net yesterday looking for 1875 replicas I stumbled across this beauty.  Make sure you read the whole description.  Now thats something I would love to have.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=120921990

[St. George]

Just for the hell of it - re-read the description about the 'provenance'.

Any piece with this supposed background needs to be fully documented by the seller - and he hasn't.

Plus - the dents in the finish are deep enough to've penetrated the original nickel plate, and it has the look of a re-nickelling in its past, along with some brass 'plugs' where there shouldn't be any.

As to the writings period 'style'- - anyone can write like that...

He's provided a story filled with terms like 'may' and 'should have no problem' - nothing more - and if those terms aren't red flags for disclaimers, I don't know what might be.


Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Bristow Kid]

Well its still a nice gun in my opinion and if the facts are there like he said it should be easy to verify the story.  I have and still do value your opinion St.George please don't take my reply as doubting you.  Your input is always welcome on any of my posts.  But you have to admit if the story could be verified it would be a great piece to have in your collection.

Bristow Kid

[Bryan Austin]

Still a nice piece.


I have run into the same problem with my Marlin 44-40. Its a button mag. Abviously an original or very early mod. No dovetail fill-ins etc but because there is no factory record of it leaving as a button mag.....well you know thw rest of the story.

I disclaim everything I sell. Not because I doubt what I sell but because there is always someone who will tell you it aint what ya say it is.

I was at an antique airplan fly-in one year with my dad. He owned a 1928 WACO biplane that was a crop duster he converted back to standard. It was ugly because it was a crop duster painted red and yellow. At the fly-in a man walked up and said it was the ugliest airplane he ever saw. My dad replied, what did you fly in here? The man said nothing and walked away!

[St. George]

The salient point I'm making is that the duty falls to the seller of the piece to provide provenance - 'not' to the buyer.

The buyer gets to do this if he's uncovered an item at an estate sale or other 'un-tainted' venue, but online gun sales sites and gun shows aren't the places you'll find sleepers unless yours are the first tables closest to the doors.

This seller has added enough disclaimers to warrant questioning.

If you run across interesting things like this, and are tempted - buy the piece on the value of its merits alone, and 'not' the story - and pay the price for the item and not the added-on frills.

A similar tale came up some time ago about a 'Civil War Veteran's revolver' that had an equally interesting tale without proof positive - but potential buyers did their homework, and last I looked - the seller still had the piece.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[Bristow Kid]

Thanks for the advice St.George  Like I said earlier I value your knowledge and opinions. 

[Bryan Austin]

- buy the piece on the value of its merits alone, and 'not' the story - and pay the price for the item and not the added-on frills.

Exactly!