Wow . . . sounds like you weren't in a gun shop at all, but a "museum." Didn't know there were many "museums" left anymore!!!
Let me explain . . .
Years ago (well before the internet and forums) there were several old mom and pop gun stores in the deep South that I'd frequent . . . just to see lots of cool, vintage era handguns.
Each store had 'em priced at breathtakingly high prices like the ones you posted here. I called those stores "museums," for they only sold enough stuff to keep their doors open.
Alas, these shops I frequented are all gone now . . . and their stocks all sold off at auction. Heck, the owners are all passed away now too.
Their greed kept 'em both poor AND working into their '80s just to pay the rent, and in the end . . . they couldn't take the guns with 'em either.
I don't see many "museums" anymore. Then again . . . I don't see many gun shops at all anymore. It is a tough business without much profit for the time and effort.
BTW, here's my latest catch . . . bought from the collection of a guy who USED to run a "museum" in my town. I only was able to part him from one rifle back when he was alive and in business . . . the other stuff I wanted he'd never come off of.
Alas, after he died his heirs decided to sell off all the guns he'd hoarded . . . as a group . . . and another fella who'd opened a pawn shop here bought the whole collection . . . probably for a price that would have had ol' Joe spinning in his grave.
Anyhow . . . here's my new (to me) post-war M&P. Kinda purdy if I say so myself. At least this one will be appreciated and cared for.
