>If I may ask, if you know at all... is it that modern muzzleloaders
>with all the bells and whistles are cheaper than only actual
>traditional ones (which only makes sense; those things are antiques
>whose supply will only go down, never up) or are they also cheaper
>than modern repros of traditional muzzleloaders?

Pa's got a basic, no-frills one. It was cheaper than a traditional one (you're right.) and cheaper than a reproduction (15 years ago). His only concessions to modern design (besides materials) were rifling and modern adjustable sights.