[wterrell]

Edward,
I grew up in the backwoods among many old moonshiners and gun traders. (One is preparatory to the other.) The dynamics of trading is honed to a fine art by these men of wit (although uneducated) and passed from one generation to another. While this particular gun trader was not born on this soil, he possesses quite a few of the skills that I have seen practiced and have admired since boyhood.
I do not know if honesty has anything to do with a gun trade. It is the challenge of up-handing your opponent. I do not believe that they enjoy taking advantage of the uneducated or uninspired.