This nothing at gun shows issue has been a rumor or misunderstanding of how guns shows work for many years. If one does not think they can find anything at gun shows, please stay home. I have used every way to find guns for 35 years now. I have found guns by every single method, gun shops, auction sites, pawnshops, folks who put out the word of "I know of", gunboards, other sites, for sale sites, I posted it thread, local papers and more than any other method--gun shows. The stuff is still there and if collectors do not want to do the work and "game" of gun shows, I am fine with that as I find more there than most other sources combined. Much of it is networking, word of mouth, getting in or a table before the show, leg work guys, leg work networking, talk, get to know. The only thing that keeps me from finding enough stuff at gun shows is I am not a millionaire. I got an amazing pre-1913 Colt 1903 in Colt oven/bone/charcoal blue recently at a gun show and the stuff there I could have bought at this small show that was worth buying was in the hundreds of thousands. I am not sure how many of you see things but vision may be a problem??
If you want only a Mosin only, maybe. If you collect collectable firearms, I think many folks have not judgement and can not do the work it takes. It is not as simple as showing up and looking, it is work. Returns on what work gives up depends on the work applied.
By the way, and Iraqi SVD is not nothing. That is why he was asking $20K. There may be a dozen in the US. Exactly why is this nothing?