No Alvin I think I've understod what that chap had in his mind.

Here the "broomhandles market" is almost completely stuck, who's got a nice broomhandle doesn't put it for sale because: a) because there is no market b) avoids selling it at a sheer loss.
And in general collectors tend to "trust" some supposed to be reputable gunshops specialized on vintage guns, instead of spending money on good books to study.
The obvious result is people spending money on junk, or spending say 100 on something worth 70 thinking they've bought something worth 150.
That's the way the cookie crumble!

Best regards and have a nice Sunday.

No wonder Simpson is listing some C96s with their tiny import mark these days. The gun must come from Europe recently... A few good ones but not great ones -- I guess the reason being they have to make money, so there must be a delta between wholesale and retail. At wholesale, very few collectors will sell their top ones... no matter it's in US or Europe.

I just reoiled a few in my safe this morning. The more I look at them, the more I feel happy. So, I kept them in my collection. From left to right: Antique 1898 Large Ring, Scarce 1899 Large Ring, and two post-1900 Large Rings.

http://i68.tinypic.com/2qvw9wy.jpg

Alvin: The Simpson C96s with import stamps are probably from the Sturgess collection.

"Back when" the Hartford (CT) show was running a fellow set up about 32 feet of C96s in elaborate custom-made wood/glass cases with (IIRC) red cloth backgrounds and engraved brass labels with such informative text as "1st model, 3d type, SN" etc.,
pure ego trip and utterly un-informative to non-super-specialists. I recall a lot of glazed expressions but nobody reading all the labels...