National Rifle Associaton --- Official Antique Firearms Grading Definitions
Descriptions of the condition of vintage firearms can be exceedingly subjective. Hallowell & Co endeavours to describe guns in terms of their mechanical function and their percentages of remaining original finish in different specified areas. Decent photography, however, can allow more accurate evaluation of current condition than any fallible human being's verbal description. While not exactly relevant for the evaluation of vintage modern firearms of the type handled by Hallowell & Co., the NRA has established formal definitions for various levels of condition for Antique firearms, as follows:
Factory New
All original parts; 100 percent original finish; in perfect condition
in every respect, inside and out.
Excellent
All original parts; over 80 percent original finish; sharp lettering, numerals
and design on metal and wood; unmarred wood; good bore.
Fine
All original parts; over 30 percent original finish; sharp lettering, numerals
and design on metal and wood; minor marks in wood; fine bore.
Very Good
All original parts; none to 30 percent original finish; original metal surfaces
smooth with all edges sharp; clear lettering, numerals and design on metal; wood
slightly scratched or bruised; bore disregarded for collector firearms.
Good
Some minor replacement parts; metal smoothly rusted or lightly pitted in places,
cleaned or reblued; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal legible;
wood refinished, scratched, bruised or minor cracks repaired; in good working
order.
Fair
Some major parts replaced; minor replacement parts may be required; metal
rusted, may be lightly pitted all over, vigorously cleaned or reblued; rounded
edges of metal and wood; principal lettering, numerals and design on metal
partly obliterated; wood scratched, bruised, cracked or repaired where broken;
in fair working order or can be easily repaired and placed in working order.
Poor
Major and minor parts replaced; major replacement parts required and extensive
restoration needed; metal deeply pitted; principal lettering, numerals and
design obliterated; wood badly scratched, bruised, cracked or broken;
mechanically inoperative, generally undesirable as a collector's firearm.
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