Ed, "value" is a very subjective thing, which is why we often say the value is whatever someone is willing to pay for something is its value. It sounds trite, but it is true.
What we know about the Nighthawk Lollar Korth above is what someone is asking for it. I just checked Nighthawk's site and don't see that model listed, but I seem to recall seeing them in the past for prices around $10K.
I paid about $5K for the gun pictured, and, since I had been researching Korths for several months by the time I bought it, leapt at the opportunity as I thought, and still believe, that it was a very good deal.
As with most things we collect, there are all sorts of variables to consider with Korths. When and where was it made, what model is it, how many were there, what is the condition, etc.
Threads on Korths, on this forum and on others, pretty much invariably draw comments on why would anyone be crazy enough to spend that much money on buying something that is pretty much functionally the same as guns which cost far less.
The explanation that makes the most sense to me is that it is the same reason that some guys will, say, spend far more money than most of us on high end mechanical watches. The beauty of the engineering and craftsmanship, the painstaking effort to create the piece, appeals to some of us more than to others.
And, sure, you need to be fortunate enough to be able to afford it.
I'll add that I am a novice Korth collector. There are fellows out there with far greater knowledge than I have who have freely shared their knowledge, and to whom I am indebted for what I have been able to learn.
Larry
Maybe that figure includes all fitting, polishing, and finishing? Still seems like an awful lot.
