For what it's worth, I bought a slightly rough but plenty reliable Browning A-5 for $499 a year or so ago, it was old but was a great price on a gun of that quality. I traded an older SKB 12ga O/U a few months back on another gun and I think that dealer had my old gun on the rack for $500 (he gave me $350), it was old but a high-quality gun at a good price just for that reason. I admit I'm in the crowd that will buy an old high-quality gun over a new cheap one. Things like scratches, re-bluing etc will hurt the value of the gun but not the way it works.