Agree with SB - 1870 to CIB!! The makers have all had various "periods" of better and worse, more and less reliable quality, etc. The number of high original Quality grade guns as a % of total production has also varied due to local, country, and global economic cycles. One needs to judge guns against the time frame of their production, the use they have seen, and their current utility. The current spread in prices suggests that there is a sufficinet supply of most guns. Very high condition American guns may be something of an exception in terms of supply. The number of shops, makers, and size of auctions suggest that there is a healthy demand, also. As for new guns, well the trade has molted from local to national and into pretty much a global trade.
