I don't mean to belabor the point about your rifle's original cost. I am curious about the previous owner. Was his last name Larow? I appraised a collection of longrifles a year ago, belonging to two brothers, last name Larow, that originally belong to their father, who was killed in a motorcycle crash in the '80's. In the collection, were two or three early rifles of Lew's, and a couple of rifles made by a "student" of Lew's, stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, CPT Brad Randall, who now lives in Atlanta, GA area.
Do you have the 1977 Gun Digest Edition, displaying the crossed longrifles? The rifle on the left was executed by Monte Mandarino, who was in his mid-twenties, working under John Bivins in ’76, and the rifle on the right was done by John Bivins for his close friend, Lewis B. Sanchez.
Lew’s rifle made by John Bivins would have probably cost another customer between $1,500 to possibly $2,000 in 1976.
My rifle made by John Bivins, his first left-hand rifle, is of the same pattern as pictured but not as much coverage in carving and inlay, cost me in 1977, $900.00. Perhaps my partnership with Lew “affected” the price, but I believe anyone else would have been quoted no more than $1000.
I am at a loss on how to post photos on this forum, and maximum file size per photo. Have looked all over the forum, FAQ, etc. Perhaps, since you have posted photos, you could point me in the right direction. I have the 1977 Gun Digest Cover ready to post.
