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Jeffy U have to take into account that the Rigby was NOT SOLD IN THE USA but AU....therefore most of the US Speculators who are driving prices were not participating in the sale... The underbidder on the Rigby happened to be from AU.

The Rigby was sold on a WORLD WIDE market, 2 of the other English Percussion TGT rifles in that sale are on their way to the UK....

U also have to consider that the number of people interested in a Rigby is MUCH SMALLER than for Colts, S&Ws, Winchester and Sharps.
This does two things

1. Speculators are not likely to get into such a specialized market

2. Since the Market is so specialized the prices tend to go up more slowly and it is a much more stable market.

Monty Whitley (High end Antique gun dealer), THREE YEARS AGO had a Whitworth 1/2 Stock Match Rifle that he wanted $14,000 for I believe he sold that rifle for $12000...he wanted $6000 for a set of CASED SIGHTS for that gun.

Cased Guns like the Rigby, Whitworth Gibbs or American Tgt guns generally run about 25K...

I just don't have a comparable sale for a Rigby simply because one hasn't been sold recently...
However I have to say Collectables of what ever stripe ar HOT right now...apparently across the world...