Returning to the focus of the original post which was that Arrieta Shotguns is abandoning the mid-to-low range of production and focusing on higher grades.
Is this a sign that many buyers of new guns either want to high end of nothing?
Arrieta's answer appears to be yes. The new manufacture SxS market is gravitating away from mid-range guns. This does not mean that secondary market for mid-range guns is off, just that they are not selling enough of them new to be worthwhile to Arrieta.
I must admit that I am a contributor to this reality in that when I have had $5k to spend on a gun it has been on the used market and not the new purchase market. In all the long gun transactions I have done in 30 plus years (over 45 purchases) I have never brought a new gun. I have felt I can get more for my dollar that way.
