I feel your pain, but on the other hand I juzt picked up 4 place-fillers at this weekend's Reno show :
-99 Arisakaicon, all match including dust cover, 99+% blue, still with grease in the barrel channel, excellent wood. Would rate mint except some minor attempt to deface the mum.
-1941 Carcano, matching, dent-free, no rust, excellent bore
-SMLE, 1918 dated, all matching including magazine (electropenciled), with bayonet and scabbard. VG overall, worn but clean. Relatively rare out here, in fact first one I've seen with WW1 date and English made.
-Another Carcano, short rifle, well worn but good bore, no dents, no rust and matching. Uncommon in 6.5, needed it to complement my Finn.
the last two shows were nada, so sometimes the gods are smiling!