I was going to reply here - http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread....-you-have-paid - but decided to start my own thread.

The most I have paid (in relation to an example of a particular mark) was for a BSA Merlin. It was a reminder of the first rifle I had so bought from a nostalgic perspective. I paid top but reasonable price (you know who you are).

The trouble is that it was almost too good. I wanted to play with it for the nostalgic reasons mentioned but was wary as every time I loaded it it knocked off some value. In the event I have only fired it about 50 times in three years. I want to use it more but feel I am abusing it so don't.

I know this is daft - I am a collector who really loves using each one. My problem is that apart from the Merlin most are vgc but not mint and I have no problem (carefully) using them.

Does anyone else have this dilemma with mint examples?