Research always trumps consensus or opinion.
If you're serious - you buy reference books, or get them from the Public Library and 'read' them - not just look at the pretty pictures.
Doing so will educate your 'eye' as well as your 'sense' and you'll be much better able to winnow through the chaff at a flea market or an estate sale to net yourself something of value.
There are collector's shows and gun shows and antique malls and such - 'all' of their prices have risen sharply simply because of research on the part of the sellers.
Today - there are reference books on pretty much everything one would want to collect - from dug battlefield relics in Virginia, to the Kolb/Sedgeley Baby Hammerless revolver.
These weren't available a few years ago, but the field is growing exponentially.
If you want a bargain - they're still out there - but you have to bone up on precisely 'what' you're looking at, and at the fakes as well, and the only way to do that is to do your research and ask intelligent questions of the guys who collect and deal within your areas of interest.
Buy books before you buy the artifact - you'll know more than the other guy, and you'll save money, besides.
Good Luck - Good Hunting...
Vaya,
Scouts Out!