One needs to understand the manufacturing process a bit. I have been in the business of selling Harley Davidson motorcyles since 1984. In those early years, production was around 30,000 units a year. When it became fashionable to own an HD in 1990, the demand went through the roof. Production increased to around 100,000 units a year by the early 1990's but customers were put on waiting lists. By the late 1990's these lists were 3-4years out in some cases. A factory can only build so much product in its current facility, this is true for any product, motorcycle or guns. Demand was so high that in some markets, dealers were charging $5000-$10,000 over MSRP and customers paid it. HD could not envision this demand and it takes many years to build new facilities and get them online. By the early 2000's, the new plants came on line and by 2005 & 2006, production approached 400,000 units. In 2007, the economy went to crap, demand fell, customers lost jobs and sold their toys, HD production dropped to 175,000 per year. New prices went to h**l and used product is cheap, the company lost millions. The new market is still struggling to recover.
This will happen in the firearms world more than likely. The difference is that that the "powers that be" will make it so difficult to legally aquire firearms that the preowned market will probably just get worse. I am not defending any manufactures, but look at it from their point of view. They could not expand production in time before the political climate totally ruins their business. How can a company justify the millions of dollars and several years of building to meet a demand that may, in fact, be a last gasp for some of these business? If you were the CEO of one of these business, would you? Again, I am not defending nor am I happy with the curent situation either.
Still, it urks the heck out of me to see a local shop have a tag of $1789 on a repro Spencer. Could buy an original for not a lot more. Here is what is stupid, I looked at it and caught myself starting the justification process. Like I said, we are part of the problem. Then again, I may be totally wrong and it is a grand conspriracy after all!!!