Prices 1964

[Ilovetoolsteel]

I have a huge stack of old issues of American Rifleman.
50's, 60's, 70's, I was looking at prices in some issues from 1964. (did you know gun ads in magazines actually had prices at one time?)

Colt AR-15 $189.50, This was before the foreward assist.
Ruger 1022, $58.95, Extra magazine $4.00

Surplus M1 garand, $77.95

A Crosman 38c or 38t pellet revolver cost $22.95
However for $28.95 you could buy war surplus Smith and Wesson or Colt revolvers.

Harry Morseth would sell you a knife for $14.95

 

[mwerner]

I well remember those ads from the big mail-order firms for all manner of military weapons, where you could get matched-serial-number Lugers for under 100 bucks, and "excellent" Mausers and such for under 50.

I seem to recall that Oswald paid only 20 bucks for his Carcano...

One of the remarkable things you could get via mail-order at that time was the Finnish Lahti 20mm anti-tank gun:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-39_20_mm_Lahti

As I recall, rounds (ball only... ) were about a buck apiece.

Steve Allen, on the original Tonight show, actually had a contest to give away one of these fine weapons. Contestants had to submit a post card explaining what they would do with it. The winner was a young guy who sent in a bent, mangled, stained, and mispelled entry stating how careful he would be with the cannon...

On a similar note, a small group of Cuban exiles mounted one of these things on a speed boat and proceeded to Havana, intending to shoot up a hotel where El Jefe was reputedly staying.
From NY Times:

Times Select Content Nonviolence of Castro's Foes Still Wears a Very Tough Face
By MIREYA NAVARRO

Jose Basulto, the leader of Brothers to the Rescue and the pilot of the plane that returned safely to Florida on Saturday after two companion aircraft were shot down, used to fight Fidel Castro the old-fashioned way. In 1961, he took part in the ill-fated Bay of Pigs invasion. He returned to Cuba the next year to fire a cannon at a Havana hotel from a boat.
February 28, 1996 World News

 

[smithsnoh]

Yeah, Interesting comparisons. Back then (60's), I remember saving up to buy, not only an M1 Garand, but also a mail-order monkey for $19.95! Didn't get either one. Bought a knife and a shotgun locally instead. The other interesting point is that you could have rifles, pistols (and monkeys) shipped right to your door.

 

[Ilovetoolsteel]

I seem to recall that Oswald paid only 20 bucks for his Carcano...

The rifle was $12.88, $19.95 with the optional scope

Would you like a xerox copy of the Klein's sporting goods ad Oswald bought his rifle from? I have the Feb 1963 issue of American Rifleman that had the ad.

 

[SIFU1A]

yep prices were low then for sure, of course the wages were also, if ya made $500 a month ya were doing all the good,