The dealer is local and he specializes in expensive old Colts (pistols & rifles) & Winchesters. This was the only BP item he had. He said he had bought it in a lot of something like 5-7 rifles (I can't remember), and that the assigned amount he paid for that one was $400. He said he brought his price down a bit to just break even. I didn't try to dicker him down because it just seemed so nice that it would be worth the money.
As I said, I just got into all this (BP) and really didn't know what I was seeing at first, just that it was broken, and I was concerned that I might not be able to find a replacement spring. I asked around too and some people said that sometimes you find weird/cheap locks that you can't get parts for. So I didn't want to blow $400 on something that I couldn't get working. But you guys (and my just received Gun Works catalog) convinced me that it was a good lock and I could get replacement parts for it.
In addition, I had *just* told my wife that "I'll never buy one of those Kentucky long rifles because they are just too darn long, weigh too much, and don't balance well for me". Well, in addition to everything else, the weight while heavy isn't too bad and this one seems to balance well. Maybe that's partly the result of the swamped barrel.
I'm just glad it didn't sell in the 1.5 days it took me to get back!
Oh, and there were two $100 bills in the patch box.
Actually, a bunch of flints & leather. :blah: