1954 Pinto(?) Advertisement

[Kevin G]

A buddy gave me his deceased Dad's collection of "American Rifleman". 1947 thru 1986, sorted and bundled by year.
Came accross several ads, circa 1954, by an outfit called
REX FIREARMS CO, Inc
743 5th Ave at 57th St
NY 22, NY
"Custom S&W .357 Magnums with bright blue frame - nickel cylinder and barrel - selected over size custom target stocks..............$189.00"
Has the same description for Custom S&W .44 Special Target Models at $177.65
"Custom S&W Bright Blue K-22's and K-38's - both "Masterpiece" and "Combat" - selected oversize target stocks..............$141.50" (note no mention of nickel in this ad)
"Custom Airweight S&W M&P's - blue frame, nickel barrel, rosewood stocks.......$118.50"

I'm thinking this dealer must have been something of a "master S&W dealer", elsewhere in the ad it mentions carrying "a tremendous inventory of all available STANDARD MODELS at all times", "complete line of FACTORY HAND ENGRAVED MODELS and SPECIAL CUSTOMIZED REVOLVERS", also states to contact them for revolvers not available from the factory, hardware, and sporting goods suppliers.

While these prices may seem like quite a deal today, looking at prices found in other ads listed below, these blued/nickeled guns were rather pricey in 1954 dollars.
For comparison elsewhere in the same issues (circa 1954) in other ads I've found these prices
S&W's
22/32 Kit Guns, 2", 4"bbl $65.60
.38 Chief Special, 2", 3" bbl $59.60
.38 Chief Special, Airweight, 2" bbl $62.60
K-38 Heavy Masterpiece 4", 5", 6" bbl $71.07
Highway Patrolman, 4", 6" bbl $85.00
.357 Magnum, 3.5", 5" bbl $110.00
.45 Long Colt Caliber, 6.5" bbl, target revolver $84.24
Colts
Match Target Woodsman, 6" bbl. $84.50
Officers Model Match, .22lr or .38spcl, 6" bbl $79.25
Sport Model Woodsman, 4.5" bbl $69.60
.45 ACP, Model of 1911, (Ithaca and Remington Mfg.), British & Canadian surplus,
used, good condition $32.50, SELECT GRADE with 2 extra magazines $34.95

I could go on and on. In addition to the prices posted in the ads, the articles are fascinating. There are some concerned w/second ammendment rights, etc, a very few about tactical/self defense, many about gunsmithing, target shooting, and hunting.
Kevin

 

[pred]

.45 ACP, Model of 1911, (Ithaca and Remington Mfg.), British & Canadian surplus,
used, good condition $32.50, SELECT GRADE with 2 extra magazines $34.95

Now that is a good price!!!!!
Peter
Neat stuff! I like finding old car stuff too!
I found an old news paper from 1967 with the auto classifieds, and old corvettes were only about 2K or less. About the same price as a new VW Beetle!

 

[jag312]

Neat stuff! I like finding old car stuff too!
I found an old news paper from 1967 with the auto classifieds, and old corvettes were only about 2K or less. About the same price as a new VW Beetle!

In 1968 I could have bought a Ferrari Testa Rossa for $5,000. This was the real racing car from the late 50s and early 60s. Nobody wanted them. They weren't competative for racing. You couldn't drive them on the street. They were just something to take up space in your garage. I wanted it. I wanted it bad. All I needed was another $4,500 and the car would have been mine. What are they selling for now? In excess of $5,000,000.

 

[pharmer]

I'm surprised that a gunshop was at 5th ave and 57th as late as the 50's. Joe

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

All those old prices look great until you compare them with the incomes of that era.