For some reason, countries with cheaper labor tend to produce shoddy workmanship. The U.K., Germany, Austria and the U.S. have very high labor rates, but produce the finest custom rifles the world has ever seen. Why can't cheap labor countries reproduce that level of workmanship?

Regardless of price increases, there are still some deals to be found. Champlins has a Heym SIDELOCK .470 NE for $17.5K and I suspect a small discount could be negotiated. That seems like a good deal for a sidelock.