Bert H. said
Maybe I am missing it, but I do not see “extensive” cold blue anywhere on that barrel. There is a noticeable patch on worn bluing on the left side of the barrel.
I took what RIA said at face value. They are usually ones to hype things up and ignore or tone down detrimental aspects of a firearm, so it would be unusual to excessively emphasize a firearm’s flaws.
mrcvs said
Bert H. said
Maybe I am missing it, but I do not see “extensive” cold blue anywhere on that barrel. There is a noticeable patch on worn bluing on the left side of the barrel.
I took what RIA said at face value. They are usually ones to hype things up and ignore or tone down detrimental aspects of a firearm, so it would be unusual to excessively emphasize a firearm’s flaws.
Yes, I took them at their word on this. Claims of defects are rarely exaggerated. But like Bert, I can’t say that it was apparent in the photos.
RIA’s so called “experts” are anything but that. A dear friend of mine sent them (2) Winchester rifles to be auctioned (10-years ago) that were 100% factory original and in 95% condition…RIA’s “expert” wrote them both up as refinished. Both he and I refuted it with RIA, and my friend ended cancelling the auction listings and getting the rifles shipped back to him. As a result, I personally will never deal with RIA again.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
A collector friend of mine, who is a gunsmith and does estate appraisals for firearms, had the same thing happen to him several years ago by RIA.
He ended up paying the shipping cost from Canada and brokerage fees, both ways when he told them to return the guns. Needless to say he will never ever deal with them again and advises anyone else the same.
Rick C
oldcrankyyankee said
Has anyone else noticed that when the auction houses do a name drop i.e. from the collection of so and so bid estimates go up, me i’m a nobody prices down.
Name dropping has been a powerful force in many arenas of our culture for a long time. It works. Not for all, but it works for many. It adds an element (an unreal element of course) of prestige. It’s overused and often implies extra value when there is none. But… if you can name drop, “from the collection of Teddy Roosevelt” (and it’s verifiable) you’d be foolish not to do it. I also think the name dropping can be effective because it can touch familiarity with some buyers. For example, “from the collection of Tommy Rholes” has meaning to some here and will draw attention to a piece. And when you can draw more attention to the piece, it’s not unreasonable the auction estimate would be ratcheted up a bit.
Henry Mero said
There’s another ’94 with 3/4 mag. at R.I.A. lot #1044 , nice gun, one of the ’94’s I owned at one time and would like back , if I can afford it
Henry –
That a very beautiful and desirable rifle. I can understand why you would like it back. I really have a fondness for 3/4 mag rifles.
We discussed this 3/4 mag. .33 WCF earlier in this thread:
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/87/59
This is the one that RIA described as having extensive cold blue touch-up. Whether this was accurate or not, bidders seemed to take it to heart. The auction estimate was $9000 to $13,000 and it hammered at $5500.
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