MY, HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

[teesur]

I was sorting through some things in my attic last night and discovered the blue box that my
SMITH&WESSON
HIGHWAY PATROLMAN
BLUE FINISH MODEL 28
6-INCH BARREL
came in when I bought it new in March, 1964. In the box was the receipt which shows that I paid $67.50 plus 4% sales tax. Total $70.20.
My, how times have changed!!

 

[2Loud4You]

I'll be the 1st to offer to double your money.

 

[pharmer]

That was a week's pay then. Joe

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Those old guns that didn't even have a lock on the frame, and came with those cheap cardboard boxes were junk. I feel really bad for you, so I am willing to triple your money back!

Welcome to the forum Teesur. Do you have a picture of that old gun?

WG840

 

[labworm]

Today that same purchase in 1964 would cost $487.09

 

[teesur]

Here is picture of "that old gun"

 

[teesur]

I sorry 2Loud4You. My heart just won't let me take advantage of you like that - - - Oh, I thought you meant for the box and receipt.

 

[teesur]

Here are pictures of a couple of "that old gun's safe mates.
teesur

 

[Bruce Bannister]

Maybe they haven't changed as much as you think.

Your $67.50 in 1964 equals $447 in 2007 dollars, which is the latest date that the inflation calculator I used will allow. Add in a couple more years to get us to 2009, and I wouldn't be surprised if the price equivalent reaches $500.

A better way of comparison is to figure how many hours' work it took to buy a given item, then and now. In late '69, I special-ordered a 1970 Olds W30 442 muscle car, and the delivered price was $4200 Canadian. A new Ford 3/4-ton 4x4 with winch was $3900 delivered in the Northwest Territories. A VW bug was $1600 new...

At that time, my daily production bonus in the gold mine was $35 per shift, and wages were additional to that. Less than 100 days' work would easily buy my new car! Funny, I don't seem to remember living on "easy street".....

 

[Wheelgunner840]

Thanks for the pics teesur. Those grips are unusual no? Who made them?

WG840

 

[teesur]

Steve Herrett in his younger days made the
stocks on all three of these guns.

 

[m1gunner]

I did the same thing several months ago, pulled out a gunbox and receipt from a new revolver I got in the mid 80's.

My recollection was it was quite expensive at the time, and I had to trade a mint model 15 and cash to get that gun.

 

[teesur]

That is what I meant when I said "My, how times have changed". $70.20 was a lot of money to me in 1964. I was probably making $500 a month.

 

[labworm]

I am a pack rat, sometimes being like that has its rewards.

1990 my purchases all NIB

S&W Model 66 2 1/2 RR/WO $330.00

Colt Government .380 Blue $319.95

Instead of being a pack rat I wish I was a fortune teller.

 

[Iggy]

I bought a Mdl 58 for $81.00 because I couldn't afford a Combat Magnum at $125.00 as a newly married LEO at $340.00 a month.

Took me 40 years to finally buy a Mdl 19.