I can relate to many of the collecting paths talked about. But I was reading a post by DT Flecther the other day which resinated with me and I think can be part of my criteria. He said this gun we were talking about tells part of a “story”. I think this can be a powerful enriching criteria. Gun aren’t produced in a vacuum, it’s people at one point in time adding their input into a story. In England Lincoln Jeffries rifles are a perfect example; bell ringing etc. My current find of a Crosman Town & Country Senior has a story. Made in 1949 first gun designed by Crosman mastermind Rudy Mertz, influenced by a Brigidier Army General Hinds. Post war influences are so evident and it was a failure, made just one year. Love the story.