When someone steals a shotgun to use in a robbery they never even think of its value, just chop it up and steal probably a fraction of its value in cash. That's if its a H&H, or similar.
The thing is nowadays some of the top brands do fetch big money.....and a lot of the well known names like Winchester, Browning and a few others are all made in the same factory in Japan. I have a Miroku MK38 Sporter, identical working parts and action to a Browning, handles the same, fires the same yet was about a third of the price. Apart from the name the only other differences are the engraving on mine doesn't extend as far and my woodwork although highly polished and nice to handle isn't as pretty, think grain of the wood, as a hand polished finished in Belguim Browning.
Again money talks, bull.... the have and the have nots.
There are and always have been really nice guns coming out of Italy, very expensive with pretty wood and posh engraved hunting scenes on the metal.
Bargains these days come not only from Japan but from Turkey where apparently they have an abundance of Walnut trees to use and produce very practical and pretty guns. But not being "big names" they sell for mere coppers compared to guns like Perazzi.
The one below was a recent purchase to use as a rough gun, to me its a practical gun to use, not a show piece or a cabinet saver. The wood work rivals some of the top Italian guns but it has no pretty engraving on the metal. I bought it to use but if it was on a named gun it would have cost at least my house and then I would be scared to use it.