MK

Bill,

Far fewer people than you imagine are using lists or internet auctions to buy guns. Certainly the internet auctions have become more popular but the mailing lists are more of a specialty item used by collectors.

Buying Curios and Relics via the internet is a very iffy proposition. It brings in a lot of sellers that haven't got a clue as to what they have. Far too many 95% matched pistols are NOT. Rather than seller's trying to pass off fakes what is more common are seller's that don't have a clue as to what it is they really have. In many cases they are only repeating to the buyer what they were told when they were the buyer of the pistol. These novice "collectors" don't have a clue that their 95% pistol is a house-fire rebuild or other non-import-marked refurbished pistol. Not to mention that many of these sellers apparently do not consider the grip frame to be part of the pistol and will grade a firearm at 90% though there is zero bluing on the grip straps.

Gun show prices do vary widely as to the location. Items in the East and Midwest really do command much higher prices than in the South or Southwest. A gun show is a local event not influenced by the internet.


Mike