Auction Today - high price?

[TNR]

Today a 16ga VH came up for auction in large estate of guns in southern Indiana. There were a lot of bidders - several on the phone.

It was a 1903 gun that is not in the serialization book. It had a straight stock and after-market beavertail forend. LOP was 14" to a recycled puma rifle recoil pad.. The wood and metal was in nice shape - a little too much case left on the receiver to make me believe it hadn't been redone at some point.

The barrels had been cut to right under 26". There was no choke whatsoever left and the soldering job was rough. It did have ivory beads though..

Gun went for $2600 no buyers premium. If it just so happens any of y'all were bidding - can you tell me why you placed that much value on it?