Quote Originally Posted by 45flint View Post
When it comes to guitars, excellent figure can demand huge interest, and a huge premium, sometimes more than the cost of the guitar? Makes me probably more aware as I look at stocks and grips. I tend to be more than willing to accrue value here even if it was the luck of the draw in the vintage era. Actually could make it all the more rare? This visual effect for me is so pleasing.
As mentioned earlier BSA back pre WW1 seems to have used premium / better walnut on some guns that were given as prizes, and I have seen enough (not many but maybe double figures) guns with shotgun grade Walnut that it may have been the case that you could ask for a better grade of wood (they would fit any sight combination / various stock styles / lengths) It seems only logical. The majority of buyers at that time would have been happy just to have the latest gun at a fair old cost to start with , but even then there would have been well heeled types who would have wanted the best I would say personally.

I am lucky enough to have this example;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312284...7607860743867/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/312284...7607860743867/

As you rightly say about guitars (I have a couple of nice ones) just say a bookmatched Sikta top can be several hundred pounds as an option, and don't even think about old pre ban felled or cites Brazilian rosewood

ATB, Ed