Provenance is a force to be reckoned with, but it must be clearly established. It also must involve a personality of historical significance.

Owning a rifle once owned by Elmer Keith would not make my heart flutter. Owning the .44 he shot the outhouse with wouldn't make my heart flutter (are any of you guys old enough to remember that article in G&A?).

Elmer was a great character in the gun world, but I would not pay a lot of extra money for this rifle even if clearly established to be one of his former possessions.

Somebody mentioned Teddy Roosevelt earlier in the thread. Now that is a magic name for sure, and I can offer proof. Just three weeks ago Amoskeag Auction Company auctioned a 1st model Smith & Wesson revolver that was ordered by and delivered to TR. Its provenance is supported by a factory letter. Here's a photo:

The revolver sold for $92,000!

http://www.amoskeag-auction.com/64/58.html

I'd say it got quite a boost from TR.

Curl