C
I can't tell about the finish, from the pictures. If its a 90% gun, with the blue isn good
condition, then its at least $1000, I would think. 5" targets are scarce - not rare, but
scarce.
From what I can tell, blue seems discolored. Maybe it needs a good cleaning - maybe its
been discolored from smoke , maybe its not discolored. The gun does not look refinished -
the fit of the sideplate is right, the sharp edges are still sharp, etc.
Here is a picture of a 4" 32-20 target, from about 1906. I have never seen another 4"
32-20 target. It was shipped to an individual, and I think it was a special order, as I recall.
Rare ? Maybe . Scarce - more than definitely. It has a lot of blue loss, and a lot of metal
wear. Dave Chicoine Jr worked it over, taking out most of the dents, etc, and then gave it
a factory refinish - which means not taking out the pits, and leaving the roll markings sharp.
I paid more than $1000 for this, not counting the mink coat for Daves mother.
Your gun, and this one, are not heat-treated steel, so light loads are the order of the day.
They were black powder guns. I personally would not shoot such an old gun - your is pushing the
century mark. Shoot something younger.
By the way - is Millstadt in So Ill ? My wife is from W Frankfort, about 30 miles south of
Mt Vernon.
Later, Mike Priwer