Maybe 10 years...maybe 8. When Ruger dropped the #1 as a regular cataloged item and a few distributors went to managing only small runs...I'd say that was the beginning of the ever increasing prices.
You can still find some sub-$1K...but those are usually older models...with rather plain wood. Most folks on GB have taken advantage of the semi-discontinued status and ask for stupid prices if the wood is good and the chambering is something other than a .243, .270 or .30-06.
I missed a 7x57 RSI on GB a few weeks ago with great wood that sold for $1450...and I feel that was about where prices are going to hover for a while. I just had my settings wrong and didn't catch the end time was set for a timezone one hour earlier than I was paying attention to.
https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/880047312I decided to see what else was out there for RSI's with good figure. Ran across this K model in .308. Bid was already at $1800 when I started following it. Really surprised me when it went for over $3400 by the time the auction finally ended.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/882115868Keep your eyes open, be diligent and be patient...there are deals to be had. But normal prices have definitely climbed significantly in the last few years.
