[Jeff Higgins]

Yes, definitely - the hand fitting of quality older guns has to be seen and felt to be appreciated. Modern investment casting and CNC machining has all but eliminated the need for it on mass produced firearms, with tolerances of mating parts held so tightly. It is really amazing what they can do with no hand fitting whatsoever.

It is, however, even more amazing what they did with careful hand fitting. The feel is so completely different. Certainly of a different age. We can still get that today, from our better custom 'smiths, but whoo boy do we pay dearly for it, where is used to be simply expected when purchasing a quality firearm.

Of course if we look at relative cost vs. incomes, guys were paying half a year's wages for those quality firearms. They were a real investment, and one not taken lightly. Like buying a car today. But, then again, when one really needed one, really used one (as opposed to modern day "hobby" guns), that made a difference in what one was willing to spend. And in one's expectations as to what one was buying. Different times indeed.