WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

[stumpstalker]

Late night think piece

-- Was offered a 16-gauge, #1-framed Trojan; 28-inch bbls; f/m chokes; estimated at circa 13 3/4-inch length of pull; price: $1,800
-- Would like another 16 (does not two back-ups for one hunting trip make sense?)
-- Condition possibly all original, as per my inexpert eye; maybe re-blacked barrels; 25% case color remaining; (no photos to show);
-- Checks out with serialization book
-- Lady shooter friend mounted it and said it felt JUST RIGHT for her -- in contrast with her mounting my father’s 1-framed 28-inch VH 16 with 14 ¼ inch length of pull; (gun would presumably fit me OK with butt-pad)
-- Barrels rang a little lower frequency than my other two 16s; but another man present, who should know, said they sounded good to him; no apparent dents in barrels; some scuffs on wood; silvered trigger plate, as per gun that has been hunted with. Overall, moderately used but not abused.
-- Owner said he would NOT ALLOW an inspection period, as he once had a bad experience with that (swapped parts)
-- Re-grouped for a day and then submitted to the owner an appeal (a “strategery”) for my being able to have the gun inspected; good reasons why in this case he should feel comfortable deviating from his “no inspection” policy; cited name and qualifications of my smith for the inspection, our common interests, obvious rapport, etc.
-- Owner STILL said “no” to an inspection
-- Thanked him for the quick response to my offer, and have attempted to go on with my life. Is not the hunt 90% of the fun?
-- Now am ruminating on how I never learned to operate a Hosford gauge nor seriously considered buying one, thus thinking about the adjurations of… Sensei Bill, was it?; heck, what legitimate seller would not offer a two-day inspection?; I’m no serious high-end collector anyway, so do I really have a use for a Hosford gauge? (now I know the answers to those questions).
-- What would you do?