Just remember when items get priced beyond buying power one day it will go the same route as the Civil War market. That market is dead I remember when a rifled Springfield musket was $2,000 in late 2003 and now they barely bring $400 at shows nobody wants them. Do I think someone paying $4,000 for this rifle was too much yeah maybe but if he's happy I guess that's the big thing you got to look at. Still if a 1939 42 code is $4,000 now and people think that's what it should be selling for what should an ax 1940 be selling for then do to rarity and scarcity? I remember when everybody had a conniption fit when we saw the S/147k priced at over $20,000. But if you factor in the price tag of $4,000 for a rifle like this and factored into a rifle that scarce and rare by today's market according to some. Maybe that price is not too out of line I guess.
Hell I just got a phone call from a friend of mine that just ended up with a really nice all matching 1940 337 code and he wanted $8,000 for it.
I hear what your saying. In my eyes its all about the condition. I dont think a normal 42 1939 with laminated stock and worn bluing would have touched this price. If you put an ax 1940 on there in this condition the 1000 dollar bills would be flying especially from a guy that dosent have a connection yet on all the back door deals and connections with other collectors. One thing ive learned about collecting a certain type of rifle is once you make some connections everything just seems to come to you.