Slumlord44, I'll have to agree with you that I have bought a few guns in the past that were in less condition and thought at the time it was a bargain. I know can see that in most cases condition is very important to a well assembled collection. 
  I have been a cartridge collector for over 50 years now. It all started as a child at a gun show with my Dad. He would allow me to purchase a few cartridges and then I'd read about them and learn their history. It wasn't long before his friends and hunting buddies were bringing me cigar boxes with odds and ends of old cartridges. There are so many in the collection at present I have an inventory on excel to keep track of what I have. Mind you that I'm a single cartridge collector. 
  I don't expect to collect a huge number of rifles over the remainder of my life, but now believe that collecting the best examples that I find and can afford is the right way to go.
I have a Stevens model 16 Crack Shot on the way that appears to be in great condition. Do you think that the form members would like to see a few photos?I should have it by Weds.

Should have the little Stevens #16 Crack Shot by Tuesday evening. Will take photos and post them. Should also post some photos of the Stevens #40 18" barreled 22 LR that is in my collection.
Spent the best part of the day finishing a bedding job on one of my more modern singles shots. A Remington 40X in 22LR that I have just re-barreled with a Krieger barrel. If the weather is good in the morning I will take it to the shooting house for test firing. Here is a photo of the 40X Benchrest rifle (yes it is a single shot).

Well the Stevens Crack Shot #16 that I acquired from an auction house arrived yesterday. The weather here today was such that shooting a few photos out of doors was not going to happen, so I took a few photos of it in my shop. The targets that are in the photos were not shot with this rifle. They were just something handy for a background. The rifle is in really nice condition for being between 98 and 111 years old. I found the color on the action truly outstanding. Nothing on this old Crack Shot #16 has been fooled with. The  bore does have some pitting and there are some spot were there was surface rust at one time. The action does have some pin prick pits, but not much. I'm sure that the varnish is the org. and there is no cracks in the stock. I was very happy to find on in this condition. Hope that you all enjoy the photos.                                                                                                 By the way Slumlord 44 what does having Taylor reline a Stevens 40 barrel cost? I have one that has a 12" barrel that I'm thinking about starting a restoration project on.

Slumlord44, I had Craig Rittenhouse line my Stevens 44 in 22LR with I believe it was a TJ liner. I'm very pleased with the way that rifle shoots. Craig knows what he is doing. I had John Taylor make a spring for an old Stevens tang sight for me. John did a great job. I hear nothing but good things about John Taylor, and would use him to do some of the restoration work on the Stevens 40. There is no hurry on that price, but would like to know when you have a chance. Know anyone making reproduction tang sights for the 40 1/2 Stevens?