Even if it wasn't drilled and tapped and the stock cut away for the scope mount, or in any way altered...It still would only be worth (at the most) one third of his starting bid. I may be wrong about that, but I don't see it as having great value. His analysis of the low serial numbers, rarity "one of 500", etc...seems largely bogus. But a person is free to ask whatever he wants for a firearm. Its not the only crazy price I have seen for a gun. Old military bolt action rifles have risen significantly in the last decade. Asking prices for these are now getting to ridiculous levels.