Jeremy P said

steve004 said

Jeremy P said

Maverick said
 I imagine if the right players get involved it will likely exceed the top end estimate.

I wouldn't be shocked to see "almost" double that estimate. They're going to go loony over it. Pretty gun to say the least.
  

You called this correctly.
  

Definitely a pattern forming (or already formed)! 
I can't help but wonder, do many of these all go to individual buyers and are so expensive they have to pick from a niche area or somewhere out there are a few VERY large and VERY expensive collections....I'm guessing the latter. OR....alternatively, there's a private equity group bankrolling the buying and selling and they're just leveraging the hype selling of these.
  

I agree and Great question! I was wondering the same thing myself when they sold the Rifleman’s rifle last year for 600k including the BP! Only other possibility I considered was is it a museum or museums using donor money and thus somewhat then insulated from the cost of overbidding? Easier to spend others people’s money I would think but who knows.

steve004 said

Jeremy P said

Maverick said
 I imagine if the right players get involved it will likely exceed the top end estimate.

I wouldn't be shocked to see "almost" double that estimate. They're going to go loony over it. Pretty gun to say the least.
  

You called this correctly.
  

Definitely a pattern forming (or already formed)! 

I can't help but wonder, do many of these all go to individual buyers and are so expensive they have to pick from a niche area or somewhere out there are a few VERY large and VERY expensive collections....I'm guessing the latter. OR....alternatively, there's a private equity group bankrolling the buying and selling and they're just leveraging the hype selling of these.

vociferous1 said
A Note for anyone who's interested. I finally took the rifle to the range and shot it. What a joy. Not only did it fire every time but was true at 100 yards! thanks everyone for your interest. 
  

Sounds like fun, glad it worked out.

Mike

Mike

Jeremy P said

Maverick said
 I imagine if the right players get involved it will likely exceed the top end estimate.

I wouldn't be shocked to see "almost" double that estimate. They're going to go loony over it. Pretty gun to say the least.
  

You called this correctly.

I'm still struggling to understand how the sight is graduated for both smokeless and black powder cartridges - when the velocity difference between the two is quite substantial.

martin rabeno said
Looking at the photos and the written comments there seemed to be a question of the guide lines with the lettering  Yes they usually lay out lettering in this manner. My curiosity is with the side plate lettering It is authentic I am sure but the intensity of the case colors make me thing it was colored after being engraved and not at the same time as the rifle. Now when engraving a case hardened gun it needs t be annealed. After engraving it can be reharden. I am sure this is the case with this rifle  Now if it was done at the factory or after he fact  Who knows
  

Martin…

Thank you, that answered my question and more

   I use to figure on their premier auction catalogs if the gun got a whole page they expected it to bring a minimum of 10k. This gun and a lot more blew right past that formula. When you have the condition, originality, and rarity you have the money. T/R 

Jim

martin rabeno said
Thanks for the compliments guys.
That Giovanelli rifle is pretty darn sharp though with a great inlay.  I plan on being at the Greeley show next week  I anyone is around stop and say hello. I have a 1876 I just finished.
  

Martin,

Hello,

If you read this post, just wondering what your thoughts are re the topic of discussion in the “RIA 1 of 1000 Question” thread in ‘The Winchester Rifles’ forum about a week ago.

Thank You,

Ted

You pays your money and you takes your choice, in jobs of gun engraving as in other commissioned works of art. And one man's meat is another man's poison.

But I believe there are certain verities peculiar to gun engraving. 

One of those was summed up by the late Jack O'Connor:  

If it [ a job of gun engraving] is not very well done, it is ghastly. 

I will add:  Less is usually better. The more extensive the coverage, the more the job demands perfection in pattern design, scale, and execution. An engraver of modest skill and experience might be able to produce an attractive monogram, but butcher a 50% coverage commission. The flaws add up. 

The Dallas area, perhaps Texas generally, seems to be the national repository for garish, loud, awkward, really bad gun engraving.  As Mother said at every opportunity, "Money doesn't make manners." She might have added, "or any grasp of good art."

I am not a collector of engraved pieces but I have spent a lot of years looking and trying to understand what truly excellent engraving looks like. When Jack Prudhomme was alive, his reviews and commentary were most helpful. He was aided in that by the late John Amber. I miss both of their guidance. 

The old collector's adage, "When in doubt, do without", should apply with equal force to the question of gun engraving - particularly the selection of the engraver. There are no bargains in neurosurgeons or engravers.