I think all the previous reponses are on point and from members with more experience than myself but Im gonna take a sec to give my impression. Regarding your question of price, think about the scale of operations. The labor hours that go into design, construction, and hand fitting that you probably visualized when you handled that Freedom. There's a video online that shows the life cycle of their products. The view is limited but it give you an idea of the simplicity of their operation . It at least doesn't appear to be heavily automated--or at least the ratio of man hour to machine--is probably greater than a large scale operation. That translates to higher costs when you consider their finished product output relative to the companies you referenced. Aspects of the operation like insurance and warranty don't cheapen
Plus it's pretty cool to call and have the few gals and guys you speak to know you. Bob and Wayne have always been real patient with me. As an enthusiast, this is precisely the kind of company one should support--if you can
Also, consumers who have supported Freedom Arms value not just their ability to print tight groups. If you'd like, I can show you a copy of their pricing brochures over the years.
My retirement investments, products solely designed to appreciate, are down about 3% for the year. Guess what hasn't gone down. Yup, those earlier Freedom Arms purchases. Its ensuring to know that if you're in slump you can convert your Freedom to cash quickly without losing your principal. Sounds odd, but you rejoice when you see them commanding high prices . 7-12 month build times tell you something about the strength of their branding, product interest, and the likelihood price could increase in the future.