This probably isn't the right place, but I'll tell you a true story about how research (or lack of it) relates to the value of an item. Years ago, I had a 1866 Winchester in the shop for sale for $1000. The gun was basically a well used specimen, with the only variation from standard being a small scratched in design on the side of the brass receiver consisting of a circle with 3 dots, and an arrow pointing to the circle. I eventually ended up taking a roll-top desk in trade for the gun, and it went to a new owner.
Long story short, in the next few years there was an University of Nebraska dig at the Little Big Horn Battle site in Montana. They found various artifacts, including bullets, brass shell casings, etc. For a limited amount of time that Summer they would forensically test a weapon against those bullets and casings.
Don't you know it...that very Winchester that I once owned and sold, proved to have been used at the Battle by the opposition.
The last time it changed hands was at a Julia Auction back in the year 2000. That old Winchester went from a $1000 gun to a $684,000 one!!!
Sorry to step on your post, but I just wanted to show how it pays to do your homework.
