1962 Gun Digest.

[cookie077]

I found this old Gun Digest in some books I was given after my Grandfather pasted away. Lots of interesting reading in it. Here is a page from it showing some S.&W. prices in 1962.

Happy shooting. Cookie

 

[cookie077]

I found this old Gun Digest in some books I was given after my Grandfather pasted away. Lots of interesting reading in it. Here is a page from it showing some S.&W. prices in 1962.

Happy shooting. Cookie

 

[gunnut44]

I love seeing those old ads, they make for hours of reading enjoyment, I have a S&W catalog from '67 and a presentation box was only $11 extra dollars WOW! If we only knew..... Very nice thanks for sharing.

 

[MakeMineaMagnum]

Sinful how prices have risen, too.

 

[riptrack44]

The first example of the S&W model 53 which sold for $110.00 in 1962 would, after being adjusted for inflation ONLY to 2007 dollars, sell for $746.42. This is not taking into consideration upgrades in machinery, real (not cost of living) raises given to employees and the rest of the general company overhead. We also tend to forget in 1962 a $12,000 gross yearly income was considered a very comfortable living wage.

 

[feralmerril]

My problem is I still am liveing in those prices, and was buying guns then. Belive me they just as hard to buy then too!
I remember in the late 50s colt SAA and pythons were $125 and I thought they were outta their minds then!
I was breaking my butt back then for $1.00 a hour and felt lucky to be makeing that in the late 50s!

 

[prefer_wheelguns]

I recall my father taking me car shopping in 1959. We visited the Lincoln-Mercury dealer and there, in pride of place on the middle of the showroom floor, was a brand new shiny black '59 Lincoln Continental. My God, it was beautiful! But the sticker-- woof! Over three thousand dollars! Even at age 7 I knew that was an enormous price for a car!

Now plug $3000 (or even $4000) into an inflation calculator, this one for instance, and compare that to the MSRP for the Town Car, which is the nearest equivalent, I guess, to a Continental. What do you suppose accounts for the discrepancy?

 

[Bullet Bob]

Higher wages, and thank goodness.

 

[big50_1]

I wonder if there was a gun made up for the cover or if it was just a drawing? If real, I wonder who has it?

 

[Bullet Bob]

I believe it is artwork done by James Triggs, but I'm at work right now and can't check my memory

He's a very interesting guy in his own right. He was (is?) the artist/historian for Ruger for years, used to do the exploded drawings for American Rifleman, and was a shooter, among other things.

 

[GF]

I was born in '62. Why didn't my mommy buy me that Mod 26 Target for $95.oo or that 38/44 Outdoorsman!?!
She didn't love me.

 

[Stophel]

Originally posted by MakeMineaMagnum:
Sinful how prices have risen, too.

Prices haven't risen, it's the dollar, which is intrinsically valueless, that has dropped dramatically in value, particularly since 1971.