The Neidner Shellhammer Krag was way off the charts. I would love to luck into such a beast for a grand or so, but I know that is not happening.
But let me show you something in comparison (remembering that I know nothing of what I'm talking about). Here is a pretty nice Sedgeley that went for a grand, though it rolled over at least 8 times that I saw in Gunbroker and possibly many more before I found it. I was sorely tempted to buy it until some folks convinced me that I really needed a Krag instead.
(You need to Login to view media files and links)So, a rifle like this, but a Krag is sort of what I'm looking for. 99% of the "sporterized" Krags are nothing like this so I rule them out pretty fast.
The "folk art" aspect of this Krag is pretty darn interesting to me. In fact, I have thought about specifically collecting what I would call folk art rifles and have gone far as to have cave paintings (the original folk artists) engraved on one of my high walls. No one else may like it but I do. This Krag is not so much the decorative artist part, but rather the incredible skill of someone who must have been an amateur gun maker, but clearly had the skills of a pro, the eye of an artist for proportions, and a whole lot of time on his hands. I think stocking from a raw log would have been faster than all the work he put into this rifle. So it attracts me, but I am not sure it pulls me over the hump of $700. I have considered offering the seller a lower figure but I don't honestly know that would be, or what I would be happy with. So, I watch. And maybe I'll get tired of watching and find something else, or maybe I'll take a shot at this one, it is close to what I am looking for.
Here are some other "comparibles" that are simply ghastly
(You need to Login to view media files and links)Or lacking a sense of proportion and, therefor, uninteresting
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