How to establish providence of a firearm?
My dad showed me a shotgun that he says was once owned by Jack O'Connor.
He said he bought it from a local gun shop in 1964 when Jack O'Connor lived in the area and put the shotgun on consignment. My dad bought it for $500. Shop was Lolo Sporting Goods, in Lewiston, Idaho.
Dad then sold it to a buddy who had to have it. Buddy proceeded to have engraving work done on it to honor Jack. Dad then buys it back a few years later. And now it has been sitting in a safe for decades.
He contacted Browning and they said they have no record of the shotgun being sold to Jack O'Connor.
Dad said that Jack was gifted many firearms by different people and companies, so it makes sense that there is no record of it being purchased by him.
I love the shotgun, and think it's priceless. Dad said that if he could prove it was once owned by Jack O'Connor, then it would be worth quite a bit of money.
Anybody ever track down the history of a firearm?