The answer to your question is pretty simple, even though it took me years to actually grasp it. In the law of supply and demand, it is demand which is the most important factor, by far.
In recent years, we've seen that borne out in the large selling prices of pre-'64 Winchesters, Colt snake guns, especially Pythons, and even mass produced sheet metal and plastic AK-47 and AR-15 variants. Meanwhile, my very scarce Hunter Arms Co. Gladiator double might fetch $300.00 if I was lucky, and I've bought a couple of D.M Lefever crossbolts with an estimated production of less than 1200 guns for less than half of what a decent Win. Mod. 88 in .358 would bring. Makes no sense, but that's the way it is. If only you could predict and time the next mania. Then you could afford to buy any guns you wished.
