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We still hunt/shoot with these 100+ year old rifles. They have to work.

B.

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That's no different than my Winchesters. I've hunted exclusively and fairly extensively with original Winchester lever actions (the vast majority of them original deluxe models) throughout the U.S. for the last decade. In fact, I've been somewhat critical of people who bought/collected these fine guns and then locked them away.

The way values on Winchesters have soared, and with the factory gone, I now cringe to think about the damage that could easily have been done with a slip of a horse, worse than expected weather, lost footing while scrambling after animals in the mountains, etc. This is the first year that I won't be hunting with one, which is one of the reasons I'm now looking at doubles.

400-
More study isn't likely to get me ready for a British double...my feelings on restoration (my terminology for refinishing done correctly) don't have anything to do with value, but rather with the gun's history. I'm well aware of the disparity between typical American gun collectors and the thoughts British makers/users have on getting guns prettied back up every so often, and realize at least conceptually that it doesn't affect. My preference is still for guns that I can tell have been carried and used. The Model '86 I have that is factory refinished is an exception to that; it looks nearly new but I appreciate it's other rarities enough to keep it around.

An aside: I bought a Model 1876 several years ago "sighted, shot, and regulated by Holland & Holland". The guy I bought it from attempted to have it refinished by H&H but they wouldn't do it.

The good news may be that I'm not searching for a British gun; a Merkel, Chapuis, Beretta, etc. would fill my needs for at least the near term. If I ran across an older well-kept British gun I wouldn't stay away from it, and am happy that there's a place (here) I can get some educated opinions & advice.

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