I did hear that he had 100s (1000s) of unsold items that had repeatedly been in the auction and remained unsold - they were going to scrap / gas axe.
10 - 15 - 20 years ago there were some really good buys and the Enfield was not the collectible it is now. One of my most profitable buys was a large box of "assortment on Lee Enfield parts including sights".
There was dozens of bits and pieces I wanted (but of course you cannot show too much interest in a lot), then, in the bottom of the box were 3x No4T scope brackets.I won it at £100 + buyers premium.
I took out the bits I wanted and later sold the scope brackets and other parts for over £1000.
Not being an RFD (Registered Firearm Dealer) restricted what I could purchase - I could have had 10x SMLE barrels for £10 but was not allowed to bid !
I did buy my 'fair share' of shotguns for between £1 and £10 each - my little light weight 'poachers folding 410' is still with me.
Over the last few years the prices crept up and up and for much of the stuff I was priced out of the market.