Eldon, If you appreciate the condition of the checkering, and the opportunity to come back a few times to look at it, it seems incongruous that you can't appreciate that I, and the others before me kept it this way. If I took your position, went out and shot it because "that's what it was made for" it would rapidly become just another 30" VH, and you, and all the Eldon Goddards after you wouldn't be able to be 'amazed'.
I have already been offered the chance to make a very significant profit, so that part of my thought process in deciding to buy it has been validated. I seriously doubt If I went out with a run of the mill VH and knocked down a pheasant, or busted a clay pigeon, it would feel any different than if I did the same with this gun. Eighty five years is very relative. The gun one serial number before, or after this one may be at, or beyond it's useful life. This one is still new. Given the same care for the next 85 years that it got for the last, it will still be new. Given that there are many here who feel as I do, and a few others who have PM'd me wanting it, I know that same process could go on indefinitely. Yes, it can be restored to new later on, and many times over, but then what gun can't be? They're just not the same anymore.
I may not keep the gun forever, but I get to choose who gets it next and that sure beats the joy of cash in the bank any day.
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