[oldgutpile]

So many of those old surplus guns were being dumped after the latest world conflicts. Supply and demand reflected the price.
I bet there are a good many of those old actions that have been resurrected into custom guns (98's, P17's, etc) and eventually absorbed by the populace. I am sure I have at least two or three in my safe right now with new barrels and nice wood. Hard to beat a proven action for a custom job.