Here's something to think about when it comes to these old "boys rifles."
They say condition is everything when it comes to evaluating guns, cars, about anything. Following are a couple of interesting examples in my collection, BUT, from two different schools of thought.
MINT. Appears unfired. spent last 30 years untouched in a gun safe. The father who owned it BEFORE that for a couple of decades or so, was said to have never fired it. A VERY nice little gun to have.
STEVENS LITTLE SCOUT 14 1/2.
USED. However, on the other hand, this next little guy definitely has MUCH more character and interest than that. It makes the Little Scout seem absolutely boring by comparison.
HAMILTON NO. 43 short & long only.
It's obviously been owned by some young chap who loved it. He took his jacknife and "checkered" it, probably to look like his Dad's big rifle. And being a proud hunter, he carved 8 notches in the comb of it to "show off" his hunting prowess.
He even screwed a little eye screw into the front of the forestock to attach a cord so he could hang it around his neck or over his shoulder like a sling. The rear sight is missing, the forestock has a couple of serious cracks, and the sear's so worn out the little guy won't cock. May be that's when he retired it from service.
Just handling this little POS conjures up a host of possible stories, and pictures to your mind. I like it. It's one gun in my collection which will have NO restoration work performed on it. It's got too much class the way it is to spoil it.
Two sides to every coin...
Best regards ~ ~ ~ FFF