Cheap kits dried up long ago. US produced AKs suck bubblegum. So you are stuck with new production from former soviet blocks who still have the old machinery, which is wearing out. Costs of everything from labor to materials to shipping have gone up 2-3x in the last twenty years. Inflation. Lower production numbers due to countries moving towards AR and similar 5.56 rifles.
Yup. I have known more than one FFL who either bid on his own auction or had employees do it for them. The one that made me most pissed was when they were bidding up a firearm they were selling that they knew one of their regular loyal customers was also bidding on.
You think those prices are insane, I can remember Winchester Model 37's going for $400-$500 (especially "Steelbilt" red letter guns!).Not really "garbage guns"...but more of a traditional lower price gun...
Lately it seems as if those old Stevens and H&R single shot shotguns have been going for "gold"
Now I realize that the days of these going for around $75 for a very good to excellent one are long gone....
But I have seen them being sold , sold mind you , not just the asking price , of around $200-$300 for a Stevens and $175 - $250 for an H&R...
Neat guns and I like to hunt and shoot with 'em...but still....
Also the price of production , used muzzle loaders have gone up as well....
Which I can understand for a good quality one like Uberti , Thompson Center , Pedersoli....but some of the iffy quality ones made by Giuseppe the Unknown , late Friday night or after the hang over Monday , using parts which were made and polished by drunken monkeys....are going for top dollar too....
Andy
