You can't use the original DM price as an accurate guide for 5" SR77 blades. It used "left over" Busse handles or it would have cost more. Also, using prices of anything from two years ago is not valid, as most everything has gone up, petroleum products, energy, and steel all cost more today. Wait until you get to use that Scrapper 5. The performance for a $100 knife will at the top in the industry.
HD, you are correct with the standard of living, commodities, raw materials and finished products costing more today than a few years ago. When I was thinking about the CSA arena I could get a Uberty lever-action 73 for about 650. Last I saw on that same rifle is over a 1000 today. I know this is not a knife comparison, but it shows what the increase of material coast and the weakening of the US dollar has done.
Men you can't trust, women you can't trust, beasts you can't trust, but Bussekin steel you can trust
