Gentlemen, This thread is close to my heart. There are purist among us, as should be, As for me I feel that gun collecting consist of several types of individuals, Shooters, who by a gun to use, regardless of grade, and as previously mentioned, a touch up here and there to keep the gun functioning correctly. after all they were made to be used! Second we have an individual that wants a gun as original as possible, and buys such a piece based on that originality, and will not buy a gun that has been shall we say messed with. Third we have people that want their favorite gun to look good and function as it should with out straying from it's original specifications, hence the occasional rechecking, barrel blue etc. Fourth a person who focuses on certain grades, gauges, for a collection, and if and when found, they are in need of attention, appropriate measures are taken to bring them back to originality. I am sure we could get into even more subgroups but pretty much I think we all fall into one of these four groups. As for me personally, when I find a one of a kind, or something very unusual and the gun is as it left the factory" sometimes this is hard to verify" I will have the gun brought back to as close to original as can be! Case in point,my 20 gauge lifter! The first 20gauge and to date the only A grade 20 ga hammer gun made, The gun as seen in the Parker Pages summer 2010 pg 29-30 , was sent to Bachelder to freshen up, He did a great job as usual and I am extremely proud to be it's owner, I guess others like it too,since it won the "Peoples Choice Award" at the annual meeting this fall. Whichever category of collecting, shooting we fall into. We are proud owners of I think the best side by side made in this country! Gary
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