1957 & you could still order firearms through the mail

[OldK22]

Seeing the recent post on a factory re blued 1917 and if it had effected the perceived collector value made me interested enough to look at what they were selling for in the hay day (at least it seemed that way to me)of modern gun collecting. I was not yet old enough to partake of the "see it in a magazine and order it through the mail" period, but my older brother was. He let me touch and hold the rifles and revolvers he would order through the mail and when he went to the range sometimes I would get to go along with him to watch and shoot. First revolver he let me shoot was a victory model S&W. First rifle was a Model 75 Winchester that he let me take to summer camp when I was older to earn my Boy Scout Merit Badge. I really remember the first time he let me shoot a center-fire rifle as I was in a wheelchair having shattered my right leg. He set me up behind a shooting table with some sandbags for a rest and handed me a Springfield 03A3 and an ammo can full of cartridges. So I dug out the December 1957 American Rifleman and have posted some of the adds. One add even stated that if you placed your order by December 14th you could have it delivered by Christmas. Thought some might like to see what a 1917 sold for 60 years ago.

 

[loeman]

I LOVE those old ads. Thank you for your time and effort to post.

 

[ctangus]

I remember 1957 quite vividly -- I was 13 years old and two years prior, I had bought my first firearm. I had gone to Topeka with Mom and she let me visit a gun store where I bought a Brand New Rem. Mod. 512. I had the $36.00 from working in the hay fields that summer, and I walked out with my new rifle.
My uncle had long since bought an '03 surplus rifle, "sporterized" the military stock, and added a 2 1/2 power Weaver scope to it after he had returned from the war. I seriously doubt that he had $30.00 in the whole package.
That was the way things were -- always had been -- and we didn't have a clue that it would ever change. Then came the 1960's. New world, and look where we are now.
Dennis

 

[Targets Guy]

I remember drooling over the Mauser ads.

 

[Tom K]

One of my favorite old ads was for a semi-automatic 20mm anti-tank rifle, similar to this one:

Except that the ad that I remember said,
"Accurate!"
"Powerful!"
"Makes other anti-tank rifles look like toys!"

Because, you know, there were other anti-tank rifles that you could get. How cool was that?!

I've seen one of these shot at a machine-gun shoot in Oregon (15+ years ago). It set off car alarms in the parking lot.

 

[shouldazagged]

Where is a time machine when we need one?

 

[Targets Guy]

always nice around Christmas

 

[steelslaver]

My step dad bought a bunch of Springfields and Enfields for the ungodly price of $19.95. Each of us got one with the sights milled off, scope, and a Herters walnut stock. Labors of love. Lots of deer and some elk found their way to the table with those. I passed mine down to my oldest son. I still have the one he kept for himself. It had a sloppy chamber and he reamed it into a 30-338. One of my brothers has his Remington 1911 that he got through the civilian marksman ship program for like $12 or something. My late father in law had a German Mauser that had been made into an 06 that he got through the mail.

Amazing that the streets didn't run with blood. All those guns just being shipped out to anyone who ordered.

I still bought my first revolver when I was 16 from a second hand store with no paper work or any thing in 1967. He did ask me if it was ok with my parents.

 

[H Richard]

And did you notice the first two adds were from stores in Washington DC and New York!

I never bought a firearm that way, but I did buy a stiletto switch blade off the back of a comic book at age 12.

 

[Old Corp]

I love those old ads. I'm sure $24.95 was a better chunk of change then of course. Anyone have a conversion for 'today's money'?

 

[tops]

I love those old ads. I'm sure $24.95 was a better chunk of change then of course. Anyone have a conversion for 'today's money'?

In 1959 after I graduated high school IIRC I was making $1.25 an hour. Larry

 

[elm_creek_smith]

$24.95 in 1957 had the same buying power as $213.82 in 2016

Annual inflation over this period was about 3.71%

 

[Comrad]

Can you imagine, when I was a kid at the YMCA camp, they would hand us Remington 511 or 512 and a box of .22 short and off we'd go to the rifle range. Nobody got hurt everybody learned to shoot and some came away with a lifelong love of the sport.
Then we have today.........uggg

 

[crsides]

I remember the ads from the 60's, but by then you had to fill out the little printed coupon that said you were 18. I memorized all the smith and wesson descriptions in the first Gun Digest I bought, freshman in college, 1966. The most expensive magnums were $132.50, chief spls 65.00, K22's $81.00.

Charlie

 

[Dillyp]

how did the human race survive with all the "assault weapons" roaming the streets in the back of mail buggies...

 

[JayCeeNC]

If only my dad had the forethought to buy about 100 surplus .45 autos at $39.95 apiece back then...<sigh>

 

[gwpercle]

In 1961 my Dad ordered a WWII Walther P-38 from Klein's Sporting Goods , a mail order co. , I begged him to get the P-08 Luger , but he was adamant the P-38 was a better pistol. It also cost $10.00 more , the old man was frugal to put it nicely.
Every day I would run down the driveway to meet the mailman, it seemed like forever before it got to the house. That day the mailman had a heavy package , I held it until Dad came home and he opened it.
A Nazi marked Walther P-38 and 6 boxes of WWII surplus ammo, all arrived , thru the mail . I couldn't wait to shoot it....that was so much fun and started me on a lifetime love of shooting and reloading handguns.
Dad has passed on now but several years before, he got the P-38 out of his sock drawer and said " I know you always liked this old war horse so here, take it , and go shoot it for me." He still had 4 boxes of ammo.
I would like to thank Kleins and the US Mail for some great memories and Thanks Dad !
Gary
I still wish he had got the P-08.....

 

[delta-419]

Kleins Guns

I remember Kleins, my first CF rifle when I was in high school (1957)was a mail order Caracono Carbine 7.35 mm. It cost me $12.95 plus $6.00 for 100 rounds in the 18 round issue boxes in stripper clips. I was working at the local DQ flippin burgers for $1.00 per hour after school. Spent all my saved up $$$ to buy it. My son now has it, it has a super muzzle blast. Those were the days!

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

I got Colt trooper 357 in the 60's via mail order. The gun and a leather holster plus shipping totaled 92.00. I may still have both.

 

[OldK22]

Klein's had an add in this issue so I posted a picture of it too. There is an add for the new model 41 and an add for some Christmas Buys - salesmen's samples/showroom samples for sale. The 44 Magnum was selling for $140 new but one of the counter samples was marked down to $123.95.
The Christmas Buys are hard to see in the picture:
S&W 44 Magnum Target Model 4" or 6 1/2" ....$123.95
" Bodyguard Airweight 38 Special 2" Blue..$56.50
" Chiefs Special A.W. 38 Special 2" Blue.....$56.50
" Chiefs Special Standard Weight 2" Blue....$51.95
" Centennial 38 Special A.W. H'mless 2"......$56.50
" Centennial 38 Special Stand Wgt H'mless..$55.00
" Hand Ejector 32 Cal. 3" or 4" Blue............$52.95