I'm Canadian and I love purchasing quality firearms for the most part however the US government since 9/11 has made it extremely difficult or nearly impossible.
I own a Savage 10BA, A Springfield Armory Stainless Loaded 1911, an HK P30-L (ULM proof mark) among other things European.
I wanted to purchase an HK45.
No problem you would think but it is made exclusively in the USA now and there has been an export ban slapped on it.
I wanted to purchase a nice American made AR-15. A Noveske none the less.
Since the lower receiver is stamped 5.56 and it is a military caliber it is not available for export. If it was stamped .223 there would have been no issue.
I can buy a Bushmaster with a pinned M4 style butstock a minimum 16" barrel which is either non threaded or threaded and pinned with a muzzle brake. God forbid the USA allow the export a rifle with a flash suppressor to their friendly northern neighbors who stood beside them fighting in Afghanistan.
If you want to know what the going price is for this gem of a rifle it's $1450.00
and our money is at par with yours.
I purchased a Norinco CQ-A which is an M4 style rifle in 5.56 with a 14.5" hammer forged chrome lined barrel, (we don't have a minimum barrel length limit in Canada since AR rifles have the same restrictions placed on them that handguns have), A2 flash hider, etc. for $675.00.
There are thousands of these rifles in Canada and I can honestly tell you that even though their finishing can be a bit better they're not too bad.
I also know of many people who build high quality M14's on Norinco receivers here because of the refusal of the US Govt to allow the export of American receivers.
A complete Norinco M305 (M14 clone) goes for $395.00
None of these ITAR regulations seem to do anything to keep American weapons out of the hands of Mexican drug cartels but it does a lot to keep them out of the hands of law abiding Canadians.
On a side note I'm joining a rod and gun club in the USA and even if my Norinco had a minimum 16" barrel I'm not allowed to bring it into the country to shoot since it made in China.
The quality of Chinese steel is not where many of you think it is these days but the quality of their workmanship is only as good as they want it to be.
If they can get away with sub standard workmanship to save a dollar they will.
I have no problem paying good money for quality american firearms but don't send us your bottom of the barrel firearms and expect us to pay high prices due to export permits etc.