S & W Price List 1973

[Ol Sarge]

Here's something I'm sure will be of interest to most everyone on this site. Going through old paper from my police academy days I found this "Smith & Wesson Suggested Retail Price" list dated March 12, 1973. Pretty cool trivia. When I bought my Model-27 I wish I had bought a couple of hundred more. I hope you all enjoy it. (I had to scan it in two files as it was too big.)

 

[DocB]

Interesting how the prices were up approximately 50% from 10 years earlier (1963-1973). The dawn of inflation was around 1970 when silver totally vanished from our monetary system. . .1965 it was mostly gone. . .1970 it was totally gone. We got hit really hard in the early 1970's. A fact you may not know. Between 1865 and 1965 this country had virtually no inflation.

 

[D Harry]

Thanks for posting.

 

[muddocktor]

Neat scans, Ol Sarge!

 

[rwsmith]

I was going to.....

I was going to settle for a model 10, but I really stretched and spent the extra $20 and got a Combat Masterpiece. My wife is going to kill me.

 

[MN2944]

That's a really neat reference. Thanks for posting!

I plugged the price of the M29 into my inflation calculator app. The $203 in 1973 works out to $1,089 in today's dollars. All things considered, the prices we're seeing on LNIB samples really aren't that far out of line.

 

[rwsmith]

I suppose we should thank.....

That's a really neat reference. Thanks for posting!

I plugged the price of the M29 into my inflation calculator app. The $203 in 1973 works out to $1,089 in today's dollars. All things considered, the prices we're seeing on LNIB samples really aren't that far out of line.

I suppose we should thank CNC machining for a large part of keeping costs down.

 

[rockquarry]

While there may have been other S&Ws that were difficult to obtain at this time, I specifically recall the demand for Model 29s. Not only were they hard to find, new ones often sold for far more than suggested retail price.

 

[MN2944]

While there may have been other S&Ws that were difficult to obtain at this time, I specifically recall the demand for Model 29s. Not only were they hard to find, new ones often sold for far more than suggested retail price.

Definitely. I think $400-$500 was the norm in the mid to late 70s.

 

[Ron M.]

Interesting how the prices were up approximately 50% from 10 years earlier (1963-1973). The dawn of inflation was around 1970 when silver totally vanished from our monetary system. . .1965 it was mostly gone. . .1970 it was totally gone. We got hit really hard in the early 1970's. A fact you may not know. Between 1865 and 1965 this country had virtually no inflation.

When I was about ten years old in the early 1960's our local television station ran a public service announcement with Shari Lewis, famed puppeteer, and her little puppet Lamb chop, targeting children with propaganda from the government, imploring us to convert our silver dimes, quarters and half dollars into paper money because of a "coin shortage." They didn't ask for pennies or nickels, also coins, should have been a hint right there.

 

[MN2944]

When I was about ten years old in the early 1960's our local television station ran a public service announcement with Shari Lewis, famed puppeteer, and her little puppet Lamb chop, targeting children with propaganda from the government, imploring us to convert our silver dimes, quarters and half dollars into paper money because of a "coin shortage." They didn't ask for pennies or nickels, also coins, should have been a hint right there.

That's interesting. Another example of how our government was never as benevolent and honest as we like to think they were. Propaganda and corruption are not exactly a new phenomenon.

 

[Laketime]

I'll take at least ten right now!

 

[Ozark Marine]

Back then my pay grade E-4 was not enough to even think about buying a new gun. But in August of 73 working at IHC ($5.85 a hour) I was.

 

[4barrel]

I was about 28 & Wallyworld just came to town. I bought a new 17 & a 41 at that time from them. I dont recall what happened to the 17 but I traded the 41 for a military Supermatic Citation High Standard & still have it.

 

[Muley Gil]

I was on a waiting list at Harris Hardware in Notasulga, Alabama for a M29. They were a little country hardware store that was also a S&W dealer. They got their S&Ws at dealer price and sold them at suggested retail.

I never got one. I was too far down on the list.

 

[shawn mccarver]

It is fun to look at that type of list, or circular, and think about whether you could get along today on what was available then.

For strictly self-defense, using that list, a 2 inch M36 and a 4 inch standard barrel M10 would have been my choice.

Naturally, hunting would dictate the 8 3/8 inch version of the M29, and the 6 inch M17.

Just because, I would throw a 3 1/2 inch M27 into the mix, along with the Models 41, 39, and 59.

Wow, that list got long in a hurry.

The point I am trying to make is that the "collection" above would serve nearly every need one might have even today.

Throw in a 5 inch 1911 in .45 ACP, and a Glock 17/19 and you are good to go even today!

Happy dreams!

 

[MN2944]

It is fun to look at that type of list, or circular, and think about whether you could get along today on what was available then.

Of course we could. If auto pistols were suddenly banned, I wouldn't feel too bad about carrying a M66. Don't want to ever see that happen, but many of us were walking the streets and woods before (legal) CCW was common and before Gaston branched out from plastic stove parts. Most of us survived just fine.