Son/Gael: I had similar experiences. Lots of the great old shops are gone.I visited Griffin&Howe in NY several times on trips down there,back when they were located with Abercrombie& Fitch. I could not afford their stuff either, myself.
We used to make an annual run to Hallowell's in Greenwich to kill a winters day each year.Hallowells was filled with rifles by top end makers,and of course G&H made their own. When I think of the prices compared to today,it makes me cringe....but it's all relative I suppose.
