Why would somebody pay ...????

1. Because they will be the only one on the block that owns one like it.

2. Although heavily altered it is a piece of history.

3. It is a work of art by a skilled craftsman.

4. It is stronger action than any commercial rifle made today.

Personally, I don't own a single center fire, commercially made rifle. All of mine are milsurps either original or "sporterized" by a professional gunsmith. Anybody with money can own a Remington model 700. How many Arisakas like the one selling at the auction site do you have?