Cost of a Military & Police in 1946

[Buzz Yooper]

What would a Military & Police, .38 special cost in 1946?

Thanks in advance

[Kansasgunner]

My 6” M&P was one of fifty shipped in October 1946, and the cost per gun was $27.90. Mine and Smelting Co. in Denver, CO was the destination.

[Sistema1927]

That $27.90 is $426.38 based on one inflation calculator that I looked at.

[jimmyj]

In the 1960s a blued Model 10 with a Police Affidavit was $48.80

[kbm6893]

My 4” M&P that shipped to the NYPD in October, 1946, had a Police price (which I would imagine was cheaper than civilian price) of $42.10.

[LoboGunLeather]

Originally Posted by kbm6893

My 4” M&P that shipped to the NYPD in October, 1946, had a Police price (which I would imagine was cheaper than civilian price) of $42.10.

Individual officers may purchase firearms with a department letter certifying that the weapon is for duty use, which eliminates the 11% federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition. "Duty use" may also allow for off-duty carry pieces, not just primary duty weapons.

Department purchases are also relieved of the federal excise tax and usually done at dealer/distributor cost.

Some firearms companies offer special discounts for active and retired law enforcement officers. Glock, Sig-USA, couple of others come to mind. Go to an "authorized dealer", present identification, sign the forms, get a nice little discount.

Firearms may be shipped directly to the department address, either by the manufacturer or by a FFL holder. Law enforcement purchases also bypass any of the common restrictions like magazine capacity, so-called "assault weapons", etc. Items that cannot be sold to civilians may be ordered by police agencies. NFA weapons (full-auto, short-barrel rifles or shotguns, etc) can only be sold to the agency, not to individual officers, no tax stamp required but the transaction is registered to the department.

Purchased a number of handguns over the years. I've also heard of a few chiefs and sheriffs get into really hot water over certifying firearms purchases for "duty use", then turning them over for profit.

[backer]

Have s 5" M&P originally sold by Spiros, a sporting goods store located on Market street in San Francisco in 1946. The official OPA price as listed on the S&W tag was $43.50. The price on the Spiros's tag was $56.50. Spiros was either price gouging or the OPA was done away by that time. For those of you to your to remember the OPA set prices on almost everything during the war in an effort to curtail inflation..

As to LEOs purchasing firearms, especially in Ca., and reselling them a San Diego county sheriff captain was recently sentence to several years in the Fed. lock up for doing just that. In addition he was of course terminated.
In ca. ordinary citizen cannot purchase handguns that are not on the state "approved" list whereas LEOs can. Which of course makes it even more lucrative when reselling.
Bob

[Kansasgunner]

To clarify my original post, $27.90 was the wholesale cost before the 11% excise tax. The order from Mining and Smelting Co. was for fifty 6” blue M&Ps.
I hope this helps.

[glowe]

Perhaps the greatest K frame revolver ever made, the early K38 Masterpiece, the price was around $71.50 in the late 1940s and early 1950s. For the same price you could buy a K32 or K22.

[Buzz Yooper]

The reason that I posed this question in the first place was because I have the original box that my latest M&P came in... It left the factory some time in 1946 and was first sold at retail in Wisconsin in November of that year.... Inside the box, there is the number 35.00 that looks like it was written in with a fountain pen, because the edges of the numbers are slightly raised, not smooth like if they had been written with a ball point... So, based on what I have read here, that sounds like a reasonable price for its original sale price.... ???

[rogerwnuss]

a few years ago, a friend told me, in 1963 you could walk into a gunstore and buy a Colt Single Action Army with a stack of 125 silver dollars. today, you can buy a Single Action Army.....for that same stack of 125 silver dollars.....guns don't cost more, the money is worth way less.

[charlie sherrill]

I don't know about 1946 but in July of 1969 I bought my first duty weapon, a 4" blue S&W model 10-5 NIB for $99.00 + 5% tax.

[jayn.32]

my s&w all model circular from 1946 says a .38 Military and Police square butt lists for56.50 (blue) 62.00 (nickle). Heck, a .357 goes for 100.00 and 110.00. All cal.s of Materpieces list for 65.00 (blue only).

[Goony]

Attached is a reproduction of the circular mentioned in the preceding post.