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Although the interest in commemoratives declined in the 1970s and 1980s, probably due to over-production, today’s market shows some signs of renewed interest.

INSCRIBED PIECES

A gun which has no decoration other than an individual’s name or other inscription may bring more or less than a similar gun without any special marking. There are two factors that determine the value, historical significance and authenticity.

Of these factors, authenticity of the inscription will make or break the piece. Unfortunately, out and out fraudulent inscribed guns are not that uncommon. Often, the documentation accompanying the piece and providing some “provenance” of the authenticity of the inscription will be a deciding factor.

Once determined to be authentic, the premium that an inscribed piece brings will be determined by its historical significance. As can be imagined, a modern gun that just has “someone else’s name” on it will generally be less desirable for a shooter than a plain gun, and may be worth less because of the inscription. On the other hand, authentically inscribed guns which can be proven to have been owned by a famous (or infamous) individual can bring astronomical prices for the history they embody.