Bidding with your eyes closed?
 

That's the only way I can see how this gun sold for $5700!

It has a mismatched toggle train, and the toggle looks like it might be refinished.

https://www.rockislandauction.com/de...tol-dated-1913

Maybe it's time to start selling my collection, instead of buying.

- Geo

"Estimate Price: $6,500 - $9,000" - Why?

Goddess knows I'm no expert, but it looks like a $1,500 gun to me. Nothing particularly rare about it?

I guess someone has a DWM toggle #22 and enough cash...

Oh dear. There's a sucker born every minute.

Sale price PLUS 18.5% buyers fee plus 1% live bidding fee...
dju

Well,
it says right in the title it is "exceptional" = new word to described mismatched.

It looks like whoever wrote the description also had eyes closed. In addition to the overlooked, mismatched and re-blued toggle train, the hold open (pin in the white and proofed) is a later retrofit. This is not a "very late 1913 dated" example.

KFS

There is a local auction that has become fairly big in gun auctions. All items are listed on Proxi-Bid and the pictures are generally very good.

I keep tabs on what is selling BUT I ALWAYS look at the items in person before I bid. The one thing they don't mention is bore condition and that's important to me. At times the pictures don't show everything either.

There are times when I'm amazed at the bids on line and the buyer hasn't actually seen the item.

Yea, you think? Its amazing to me how often I see a gun for sale online and the bore condition isn't mentioned at all! As far as I'm concerned, bore condition trumps EVERYTHING.


As far as the subject auction goes, in my opinion its just an illustration that there are two kinds of idiots involved with online auctions. Idiot sellers and idiot buyers. They feed off of each other. I see it on eBay all the time!

I have been collecting for more than 60 years and I seldom worry about bore condition, unless it is a really minty gun with a sewer pipe bore...that puts me off a bit. I have bought several guns without looking down the bore, and I don't get all upset if the firing pin or grips do not match. Guess I am too mellow for my own good, but rarity and overall condition rings my chimes. But, I do not purchase a refinished gun unless it is so rare I most likely will never see another one. And if refinished it has to be close to a good restoration not a buff and blue bubba job...I couldn't live with that.

I would agree with Ron - many of these fine looking guns have some icky bores - its a consideration, but not a game changer to me

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I wondered if the top picture was a wrong picture, but it 'appears to be correct? And so, toggle in-correct - that is hard for me to believe that even a supposed 98% would sell for a 1/4 of that amount with a mismatched toggle.

Not here - I'd pass on a mint gun with a sewer pipe bore, but that's me. YMMV and all that.

That's what I said.
Ron

Back in the late 90s I purchased a refinished Hi Power. Sidney Aberman had it refinished - very good work. I acquired it from a collector who had acquired it from his estate.

Manufactured around 1929. If another one should show up, then I made a bad purchase.

Where are all these blind bidders when I need them... :p

A Hi-Power made around 1929? Somehow I don't think another one will show up. :)