I really thought the used market would get better for old Winchesters, Sakos, nice Mausers and the like when collectors from the golden era of nice blued/wood rifles either retired/died/estate sales. For true collector grade rifles, I didn't expect the prices to drop, but for a sound but well used old Pre-64, I really though we'd see some discounts. It seems there's enough buyers with taste similar to my own that the prices are just going higher and higher.
I will say I lost a lot of interest in new guns when minor aesthetic changes began happening. That barcode junk they were stamping on 700 receivers, the entire owner's manual on Ruger barrels, the six hundred digit serial number on Win 70's...
