Alan,

Just as a matter of curiosity, what do you reckon the gun you mentioned is worth in 2005, 10 years down the road, assuming equal condition?

The nature of my question is not really the specifics of any one gun or rifle, but how much you or anyone perceives that the market has changed over the last ten years.

What about the last 20 years? That's a relevant time period for me, because I acquired my first double rifle in 1982 or 1983.

I just had this type of discussion with a number of double afficionadoes, dealers and collectors, at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show during the past few days. Everyone I polled thinks the market has skyrocketed, and all wonder whether any end is in sight.

The fact of the matter is, everybody wants to know the answer to Astor's question - not in regard to my rifle or any particular rifle, but in regard to the market in general. What I stated to Astor in my last post was not intended to be a round-about way of brushing off the question, and I sincerely hope it was not taken that way. I was giving a serious account of how I try to evaluate the market. There is no Wall Street Journal of double guns, unfortunately.

I reiterate, no two of these firearms are exactly alike.

My point was that I could say I paid $$$ or I paid $$$$$$, but it wouldn't mean anything because of all the other variables of condition, caliber, provenance, case and accessories, alteration, etc. etc.

If I paid $$$, some would say it's too much. Others would say it's a bargain. Likewise if I paid $$$$$$.

And not all of these firearms are purchased. What if I inherited that rifle? What's it worth then? A double gun is what it is, whether somebody paid $$$ or $$$$$$, or zero. I'll confess that I was not fortunate enough to have inherited this rifle.

I just spent the last few days at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show looking at nothing but double guns (and bought another one

too). The dealers are now asking prices for boxlocks that were asked for sidelocks in 1995.

It would be interesting to hear the market impressions of the readers of this forum. I very well may know less about double gun prices than anybody.

I feel sure the market in the U.S. is different from the market in Australia, or in England, or in Germany, etc.

Speak up, folks!

Regards,
CptCurl