That simply isn't true. Would a boxlock Holland DR have a FMV of $40,000? A Dominion? Of course not.

BassProshops has had a Dominion .465 for sale for the better part of two years. It's a decent refurbish (including re-colorhardening) of a fairly early .465 (SN19077), and has nice bores. I looked at it 18 months ago when they wanted $49,999 for it. They couldn't sell it for that. They finally sold it a few weeks ago for $14,000 less. Christie's just sold a nice original Dominion .465 for $26,000. Where is this "far more than $40,000" coming from? It certainly isn't reality.

George Caswell, who has been active in the pre-war British DR market longer than anyone I know, says a nice .465 Dominion should bring $30,000 to $32,000, and that nice Royals in that caliber will start $20,000 higher. In my observation, he's right. The .375s will bring less.

A "working gun" like the Dominion isn't a "best", nor did the maker ever represent it as such. There is a big difference in price.