Why worry about it? Less competition for those of us who are more reasonable and perhaps have a better product to sell. In fact, the more silly prices there are, the better ours look. More power to em I say!
Ok, Surplus guns, generally they are not being made anymore... so, now it is Supply AND Demand, not just supply. Before Saving Private Ryan hit the big screen, M-1 Garands were $250-$500 guns. They went up to a thousand or so and never came back down. There has since been Band Of Brothers, Call of Duty, Medal of Honor, The Pacific, ect. "I saw it on TV so I want it!" "Dad used it in the war, I want on!", the reasons go on and on. There was a supplier back east in Toronto after the first World War, he bough surplus Lee Enfield and had THOUSANDS of them. They slowly sold off. Toronto = Cold winters. So, cut the top half of the fore stock off, remove the hand-guard and call it a sporter! WRONG The sporter was a bonus, he burned the wood to heat the place because it was paid for!
How many Lee Enfields were made? (17,000,000 world wide total - No1 Mk1- L42)
How many were sporterized? (LOTS)
How many are left in original condition? (Not 17,000,000)
How many are left on the open market? (No where near 17,000,000)
How many people want to buy them and are looking for them? (More than the market can bare)
How Many Lee Enfields were damaged, destroyed or lost in all the war that saw their use? (Some where between a few and a ton)
How Many Lee Enfields are in Canada? England? Australia? Africa? India? Pakistan? ect?
What would the cost be to produce a Lee Enfield BRAND NEW today (WITHOUT cost cuts with plastics, ect)? MORE than a $500 per gun
A Lee Enfield, for quality of craftsmanship is on par with Sako, Tikka, Remington, Whincester, ect.
"perhaps have a better product to sell" the perhaps should be in capitals. The military rifles of yesterday had the highest quality of craftsmanship even by todays standards. Krag Rifle (European and American) were entirely hand fitted, and it shows. The bolt of a Krag Rifle is THE SMOOTHEST bolt action EVER produced!
Lee Enfields from 1888-1924 were Hand Fitted and are yet again almost the smoothest bolt actions ever made. The 1903 Springfield built from 1903-1940 at Springfield Armory and Rock Island Armory were of the highest quality of military bolt action rifles EVER made. The Mauser patented Mauser action rifles (most notable those from GERMANY) have severed in every major war in this century and the last century and is to this date STILL the definitive action for high quality hunting rifles.
What is an M-1 Garand worth? Well Condition is everything! Was is a Brand new Garand worth? i don't know.... what was the last price you saw on a Springfield M1A? (hehehe oh by the way, my Garand holds LEGALLY 3 more round than your M-14/M1A)
Hey, guess what, the average (non-chinese copy) AR-15 starts off at..... dun dun duh $1200. M-1 = $1000, 1903 Springfield $750, Lee Enfield (Full Wood) $450, Gew98 $750, K98K $400.... all these are of WOOD and METAL!
My wood stock might swell, your plastic stock will break in half from a good hit in extreme temperatures.
Why does a 1957 Corvette cost so much? THEY ARE MAKING THEM ANY MORE, THERE ARE LESS AROUND AND THERE ARE COLLECTIBLE!
Same with collectible guns of yesterday.
Oh, by the way, most of my Collectors, I can take them to a friends house and not need a transport permit. Can you do the same with your $1000 and up Black Guns? Some yes, most NOPE!
And one last this, My collection when put on display once a year will always get more attention than your modern guns because, the modern guns we see ALL THE TIME! When was the last time you saw a USMC 1952 MC1 Sniper? Seeings they made roughly 1000.... I would guess you haven't but I have been wrong before.