I do not agree that there is a waiting market. The average age on this forum is middle to old IMHO, myself included(72). many are retired or close too it, and have some disposable income to use/waste whatever on "toys" firearms being one category. Many youger people starting out etc do not have $1500-$2000 laying around to throw at a "cap n ball" revolver thata has very limited usage. IMHO
I know at least 50 guys that are 21-35 that own $3000+ AR15s . Do not underestimate the disposable income of younger people.
Then there is my age group , the 40-55 guys that are avid shooters, GWOT vets, work in Govt and public safety jobs,.......... We're the ones binge watching Deadwood, Hell on Wheels etc and a lot of us are deep into our careers and make good $$ . A 45 year old guy will absolutely watch Gettysburg with his son and then spend $1500 on an 1860 Army made in America, by a Vet Owned small gun maker. These are the guys who will put a 1911 that cost 2 grand on layaway without even blinking. The problem is not spending on the firearm, it's the spending to feed it.
A box of 9mm is $25-30, .45 ACP is $35+, etc etc. I spent almost $200 on .223 taking my girlfriend out to shoot my 2 AR15s for an hour . You can always call a gun "an investment ", ammo is expendable.
2 days ago I spent an afternoon blowing smoke through 2 cap and ballers, almost 200 rounds fired and it cost me a 1/2 lb of powder, 2 boxes of $10 per box .454 balls, and a couple tins of $12 caps. It's just economics , people want to actually be able to shoot regularly
There is absolutely is a waiting market for Domestic, American made high end reproduction muzzleloaders. Whenever I go to my gun club, 90% of the time it's the 30something guys who want to check out my Parker-Hale Enfield, or pair of Walkers, etc.
A $2000 1860 Army that includes 2 extra fitted cylinders, or an 1858.....that you can "speed reload". That's out of the box ready , made from high grade Ordnance Steel and has some tweaks to mitigate fouling.
All you'd need is a big budget movie featuring percussion revolvers, it doesn't even matter if people know the history. A Mexican War movie that plays out like Saving Private Ryan with big name actors doing cool stuff with Walkers. And that's it, everyone will want one
I'm sure we all remember Enemy at the Gates and the surge of interest for scoped Mosins, or Saving Private Ryan and M1 Garand prices doubled. After every Western like 3:10 to Yuma I'm sure there's a little bump in sales for Uberti Schofields.
Younger people absolutely will blow big bucks on guns. I've blown big bucks on guns , most of us have.
Just because YOU wouldn't spend $2000 for a high end cap and baller doesn't mean 1000s of other people won't
There's a battle over a Pietta Navy shoulder stock on Ebay right now, it will probably go above $500 or more. Someone is willing to spend the $$ on a stock that costs as much as a new Glock. There is a market for cool old guns.