I am wondering if anyone knows what the original price was
for comparative year models. Since the 59 was introduced in/@
1971, that would be a great year for me to know what both
pistols cost, then.
I picked up an as new, with pouch Hi Power, T273662, with the
original little owners manual. Inside the front cover, all of the
info was filled out, including the stores name and price. $99.99,
purchased in 1970. That T series had to have cost more than
that, didn't it? I was happy to pay $690.00 for it. Two years ago, I also was happy to pay the asking price of $450.00 for an as new condition 59, with box, extra wrapped mag, and everything.
Neither one is a 1971, but anyone know what they both cost
that year?

In the 1971 Shooter's Bible, the Browning Hi-Power is listed at $112.50 and the Model 39 at $110.00.
They had no listing for the Model 59 and in the new handgun article at the front of the book the only new listing for S&W is the Model 61 Escort.

My guess is they went to print before S&W announced the 59.

John

I don't know about the 59, but if you paid less than $900 for a LNIB "T" series Hi Power two years ago you did REALLY well

__________________
John

Thanks for the price info.
Wow, so the original owner actually paid $99.99 for that
Hi Power. The hardware store I got it from said the "old" guy
came in and just wanted to "get rid of it". He had bought it
right back from Viet Nam, and put it in a drawer. I didn't think
the info he filled in could be correct. It was.

In 1970, I looked at a Browning HP in a gun shop in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. It was priced at that exact same number...$112.50. The reason I remember is because I also looked at a Ruger Blackhawk in .357 that was way cheaper (don't remember the price). I bought the Ruger.

Not sure if this helps but: I bought my Model 59 in or around 1975. Maybe 76. I had bought a 39 sometime shortly after I had graduated from the academy (LASO in Dec. '74) because I could not find a m-59 because they, like the model 29, were difficult to find due to availability and desirability.....everybody wanted one. Seems like I paid about $150 for my 39. When my model 59 came in (I had ordered it from Cheshire and Perez in Monrovia), because of the desirability, I waited over a year, but got it at suggested retail because they were a Smith and Wesson dealer. I believe it came to something around $175 to $200.
wish that I could be more precise but I am still looking for my receipts that I have kept for years. It's in the house someplace......