Super old pricing coments.

When I got my DL gas was .25-.30/gallon and I was raking in $1.60 an hour at a part time job.

I couldn’t afford a muscle car then or now but they had class and sounded ferocious as compared to todays whiny little motors. You will never know the fun of stuck points, myriad carburetor problems, and judging speed by wind noise. With the windows rolled up. 😂

I can however, brag about buying primers at $25/brick when we had a real President.
 
I like reading about historic prices, but I'm weird that way. Sometimes I'll look up to see what the price of gas was in a certain year. I'm fascinated by that stuff.
I hate missing out on salad days when I wasn't as interested in martial items, but such is life. I figure in 20 years people will be wistfully thinking about how easy it was to purchase guns and ammo in the '20's anyway.
 
MHI45 said:
When I got my DL gas was .25-.30/gallon and I was raking in $1.60 an hour at a part time job.

I couldn’t afford a muscle car then or now but they had class and sounded ferocious as compared to todays whiny little motors. You will never know the fun of stuck points, myriad carburetor problems, and judging speed by wind noise. With the windows rolled up. 😂

I can however, brag about buying primers at $25/brick when we had a real President.
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my brother!
 
Cataphract said:
To be fair, an olds 442 with a 455 was a quick car for the time and towards the top end of the performance cars of the time. Perhaps a maxima isn’t the best comparison for speed since it’s just a mid level v6 sedan. Apples to apples for the 442 would probably be more along the lines of an LS Camaro, Hemi Charger, or Mustang GT. Not quite hellcat territory but definitely in the upper tiers of performance cars today and that’s where power, gearing, and tire technology would leave cars from the 60’s and 70’s for dead. Doesn’t diminish the fact that they were awesome in their time, just that we’ve had 50 years of technological advances that the old cars didn’t.
I mean, here’s some performance numbers for the “beige family sedan” of today…
The 2023 Toyota Camry TRD 0-60 MPH time is 5.6 seconds in a straight line and covers the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds with a top speed limited to 134 MPH.
All that and 31mpg freeway…honestly pretty cool.
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Given those numbers the Camry probably has a slight edge on the 442 in 0-60 and quarter mile. In top speed no way but that is probably because of speed limiters. But given all that it is still not 442 cool and never will be. 50 years of advancements should have done that. If not what is the point?
 
I have purchased gas for 17.9 cents a gallon in the mid 60s during a "gas war". In 1965 I bought a brand new K Code Mustang coupe for $2,400. Then a 1968 Chevelle with a 396-375 Hp with a 4 speed for $2, 745, then the next year a '69 Chevelle with the same equipment for $2,845...a string of fast cars followed. Recently, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and decided to get another K Code Mustang. After much thought and realizing I no longer wanted to "work" to drive, I bought a 2012 Boss 302 with 15,500 miles. This car is a 4 second to 60 car and a 12 second 1/4 mile car with a bumper to bumper warranty for 4 years. I know from previous ownership of the same kind of car, the warranty probably won't get used. I've owned 427 Corvettes with 3 carbs and new Corvettes through 2019s. There is NO comparison in performance or maintenance in old cars and newer ones...BUT...why should there be??? We thought the old cars were fast because they were for Then...compared to todays cars......I'll take a newer one...
 
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Icculus said:
perpetuate the crusty old gun guy thing.
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Talking about crusty old guys.
I'm 71 & remember talking with the old guys at the range, & hearing about $25.00 1911s from the DCM.

I paid $158.00 for my M1 & they got 1903 A1s for $25.00 with new barrels selling for $5.00.

Well I guess you get to the party when you do, & just make the best choices for your self & family.
 
Cataphract said:
To be fair, an olds 442 with a 455 was a quick car for the time and towards the top end of the performance cars of the time. Perhaps a maxima isn’t the best comparison for speed since it’s just a mid level v6 sedan. Apples to apples for the 442 would probably be more along the lines of an LS Camaro, Hemi Charger, or Mustang GT. Not quite hellcat territory but definitely in the upper tiers of performance cars today and that’s where power, gearing, and tire technology would leave cars from the 60’s and 70’s for dead. Doesn’t diminish the fact that they were awesome in their time, just that we’ve had 50 years of technological advances that the old cars didn’t.
I mean, here’s some performance numbers for the “beige family sedan” of today…
The 2023 Toyota Camry TRD 0-60 MPH time is 5.6 seconds in a straight line and covers the quarter mile in 14.2 seconds with a top speed limited to 134 MPH.
All that and 31mpg freeway…honestly pretty cool.
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That’s why when I wanted a sports car I decided to go modern. Over the years at one time or the other I had most American sports cars.
You put a late 60’s big block corvette against a modern Honda Civic and it’s a bad day for American muscle.
 
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Marturo said:
Talking about crusty old guys.
I'm 71 & remember talking with the old guys at the range, & hearing about $25.00 1911s from the DCM.

I paid $158.00 for my M1 & they got 1903 A1s for $25.00 with new barrels selling for $5.00.

Well I guess you get to the party when you do, & just make the best choices for your self & family.
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Those crusty old guy prices were when we were on the gold standard. A buddy got a Winchester M1 Carbine for $20 in 1962. He made $18 a week at the time.
 
Studentofthegun said:
If you'd been around and into firearms during the "cheap SKS days" you'd know that SKS and AKs were what we bought when we were broke college kids that couldn't afford an AR-15. Now quality ARs are much cheaper than AKs and a nice AR can be had for the price of a decent SKS.
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stop being me!
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I have purchased gas for 17.9 cents a gallon in the mid 60s during a "gas war". In 1965 I bought a brand new K Code Mustang coupe for $2,400. Then a 1968 Chevelle with a 396-374 Hp with a 4 speed for $2, 745, then the next year a '69 Chevelle with the same equipment for $2,845...a string of fast cars followed. Recently, I was feeling a bit nostalgic and decided to get another K Code Mustang. After much thought and realizing I no longer wanted to "work" to drive, I bought a 2012 Boss 302 with 15,500 miles. This car is a 4 second to 60 car and a 12 second 1/4 mile car with a bumper to bumper warranty for 4 years. I know from previous ownership of the same kind of car, the warranty probably won't get used. I've owned 427 Corvettes with 3 cards and new Corvettes through 2019s. There is NO comparison in performance or maintenance in old cars and newer ones...BUT...why should there be??? We thought the old cars were fast because they were for Then...compared to todays cars......I'll take a newer one...
Click to expand...
Even if there wasn’t a big straight line speed difference, for handling and braking I’m all in on the new stuff. If I’m going to go fast I’d like to stop fast (which the old ones could do…once).
 
Fred said:
Some of the imports now might be limited time opportunities. They aren't cheap, but the HK prices we talk about now weren't cheap back then, either.
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my first pistol was a usp compact .40 i bought for 700, i think. They didn't make anything cheaper.
that was in about '02-03.
Now you can get a vp9 long slide optics cut for less than that. and the value of a dollar is way less than what it was back then. i just checked an inflation calculator and 700 back then is about 1200 now.
 
Variable said:
Look here, these are YOUR "good ole days" Wait till the poor bastards born in 2033 grow up and try to buy firearms. "Why... Back in 23 I could buy a PSA AR15 for $500 bucks and they threw in 10 mags AND a 9mm handgun! Those were the days boy!" btw my first SKS was at Roses department store and was $89 bucks. :)
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"I remember when thinking about firearms didn't trigger my Badthink chip and activate my mandatory shock collar."

"That's great Consumer, now get in the pod, you're being relocated to the gulag."
 
DrScaryGuy said:
my first pistol was a usp compact .40 i bought for 700, i think. They didn't make anything cheaper.
that was in about '02-03.
Now you can get a vp9 long slide optics cut for less than that. and the value of a dollar is way less than what it was back then. i just checked an inflation calculator and 700 back then is about 1200 now.
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HK prices have been weird for a while now. I’ve picked up p30’s and vp9’s for the $500 range, but I’ll look again in a month and they’re back up to $800, then a month later it’s back to $500. I just wish I could find another full size usp9 (which was my first HK) for what I got it for years ago. It was well used but I paid $400 for it, then sold a year later for $650, thinking I’d be able to pick another one up for cheap whenever I wanted. So far that prediction hasn’t worked out for me.
 
Cataphract said:
HK prices have been weird for a while now. I’ve picked up p30’s and vp9’s for the $500 range, but I’ll look again in a month and they’re back up to $800, then a month later it’s back to $500. I just wish I could find another full size usp9 (which was my first HK) for what I got it for years ago. It was well used but I paid $400 for it, then sold a year later for $650, thinking I’d be able to pick another one up for cheap whenever I wanted. So far that prediction hasn’t worked out for me.
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I saw one at a pawn shop for 450 but didn't have time to get it right then. I got home and told my wife i was going back to pick it up. she wanted to go along for the ride, but not right now. gotta do this other stuff first. well, wound up waiting for her until the next morning. I let her get ready to go and then called the pawn shop... nope, it was gone already.
sorry dear, we're not going.
 
cubrock said:
Those crusty old guy prices were when we were on the gold standard. A buddy got a Winchester M1 Carbine for $20 in 1962. He made $18 a week at the time.
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Those Carbine prices have remained constant based on that, which is high.

Going off the gold standard is a large part of why we are in the financial mess we are in.
 
concepthomes2 said:
God forbid we even remember the days of .99/gallon for gas.
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I worked at a gas station when price 1st hit $1.00
The signs only had 2 digits.
We duct taped the "1" to the sign post.

And, I still have a $79 SKS and a $59 Mauser from Rose's!
 
Stogies said:
For the most part we are lamenting the same change you are talking about, we are missing the old days as well. And yes, I did buy a Mosin when they sold for 100$ but I also paid 450 for a SKS recently. You can't always win.
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My apologies if I misunderstood your reply. I just didn't get the video reference.

Wow looks like this thread took off
 
GymB said:
Dear “triggered in Asheville,”
We are so much more than a gun forum, but we are not a safe space. The focus of your post is inward, drawing much deserved mockery. An outward focus will irritate a few members while insulating you from abuse. For example instead of what you posted try something like “Hey there boomers, I’m just starting to collect SKSs and can’t believe how expensive they’ve gotten since your pre-viagra days.“
welcome and good luck.
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I'm not triggered about anything but congrats on latching on the the current lexicon. It was a discussion topic but instead its somehow become about my perceived sensitivity and grammar. If people want to be proud of what they paid 40 years ago awesome. But when discussing current pricing of items its just not germane to the conversation.
 
Icculus said:
My apologies if I misunderstood your reply. I just didn't get the video reference.

Wow looks like this thread took off
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I am curious what video reference you are referring to?

All of the folks in here have missed out on cheap guns at one point or another, we are all in the same boat on this.
 
Me. said:
We certainly didn’t see cheapo SKSs as “investments”. Is there anything the CFF collective thinks is worth buying these days? Something a current young man will be able to talk about how cheap it was back when he was young?
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Just about everything. Twenty years from now, the young guys will get all nostalgic and wish they had bought a “carload of XYZ”, forgetting how they were working hard to get by 20 years before and they didn’t have the money to buy XYZ to begin with.

Neither will they remember to take true inflation into account.
 
Those were the days my friend, gas 25 cents a gallon while in high school, bought a colt python with presentation case for $300.00 in the 70's. When gas went to $1.00 a gallon people back then talked about the "good ole days" when gas was reasonable. Point being, people will always talk about how things were cheaper years ago. So whatever you buy at todays prices, 20 years from now you will be singing the same tune.
 
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Rob said:
I worked at a gas station when price 1st hit $1.00
The signs only had 2 digits.
We duct taped the "1" to the sign post.

And, I still have a $79 SKS and a $59 Mauser from Rose's!
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We pretty close to the same age I’m guessing
Lowest I can remember gas at a constant cost was about .85 a gallon. (When I was buying) First lack of marlboros I ever bought was .55. No ID needed😁
I remember a buddy buying a SKS at Roses and getting a tin of ammo for free
 
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I remember the old people saying "if it gets to $1.00 I'm going to quit driving". :) I also remember the gas lines in the early '70s. I remember the shortages in '79-'80, too.
 
Back to the OP a bit:

One thing I try to remember is that the “good old days” pricing is mainly that way compared to the “what I make now”, not compared to “what I made then”.

For example, I remember selling those M1s at Roses for just a few hundred bucks. But at the time I was making around $4.50-5 per hour as a 16 year old clerk. So back then, $100 was like a few weeks worth of work. Now let’s say I make $8k per month…a $1k M1 carbine is now only a few days of work.

So yeah, if I could go back to 1995 getting paid what I am in 2023, it would rock. But a lot of our reminiscing isn’t based on what we made at the time, but what we make now.
 
Rob said:
I worked at a gas station when price 1st hit $1.00
The signs only had 2 digits.
We duct taped the "1" to the sign post.
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HA! I started driving juuusst after that, but I remember the fuss over not enough digits. Seems some places are having that problem again.

Icculus said:
Wow looks like this thread took off
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hard to predict which type of thread will, but gently insulting the boomers is a good bet. you know how them old folks like to ramble on.

B00ger said:
Now let’s say I make $8k per month…a $1k M1 carbine is now only a few days of work.
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Are they hiring where you work?
 
6mm250 said:
I was not old enough to have a drivers license but I mowed yards all around the neighborhood , had to mow about 9 acres with a push mower to make $3
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if you want to relive those glory days, i'd be happy to make you that deal again.
 
DrScaryGuy said:
HA! I started driving juuusst after that, but I remember the fuss over not enough digits. Seems some places are having that problem again.


hard to predict which type of thread will, but gently insulting the boomers is a good bet. you know how them old folks like to ramble on.


Are they hiring where you work?
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Hah!

It is pretty nice. The other side of that discussion is that when I was 16 I had gas and snacks as my only expenses...

Now I have: ADULTHOOD...and all of the glorious expenses that it entails...so in retrospect, I did probably still have more disposable income back when I was 16.
 
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I dunno, we live in a world of $300 ARs, sub $300 1911s, and nearly a limitless supply of polymer pistols, 1000 lumen lights, plate carriers, pouches, etc. One can get into ham radio for less than $25 and we all get mad if it takes more than 2 days for the radio to show up at your door from the time you ordered it. Seems like a pretty decent time to be into life and firearms.
 
 
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concepthomes2 said:
God forbid we even remember the days of .99/gallon for gas.
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How's about Sunoco 260 are you ready... 32 cents a gallon, wish I would of kept the receipt I found
5 cent candy bars would make 3-4 of the current ones and the Soda machine / dispenser, either had
to pull the "bottle" past these 2 fingers or slide the bottlealong a rail setup then lift it up past the fingers.
Heavy green "glass bottles" with a deposit.

Firearms side Winchester Mdl 70 30.06 $89.00 from Farmers Co-op

cars..71 Chevelle SS 454 4spd (warmed over)


even if you do the inflation calculator .. look at what some of these guns bring now

food for thought... RDIAS prior to 80-81 get em for $30-$50 through Shotgun News
price one now.

bragging no, memory lane could be, then again we ole folks didn't have all this crap going on
now, life was simple.. us ole folks as someone mentioned have been there and done it.

-Snoopz
 
Majicmike said:
I beg to differ Sir. 455hp in a modern car drivetrain will get you to puckering pretty quick.
0-100 in Oh SHIT!!!😎
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I made it from Fredrick md to West Columbia SC in 4hr52min. 100 ain't nothing. That was in a 79TA. Drive over Ceasers head in a 99 warmed up miata. No antilock brakes. No traction controls but your feet, hands and instincts. Scrubbing all four tires sideways. That is a rush and no computer to try and help you if you push it just a little itty bit more.
 
Average Joe said:
@Icculus and all the other people who think thy missed out on the good deals. Here’s a couple that you should jump on. First up, PSA AR-15 and Rock 5.7 package for $850. Next up is a Ruger 1911 .45 ACP with 5” barrel for $600.



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Thanks for looking out Joe. For AR's I'm currently pretty set with BCM, DD, and Geiselle. 1911 I'm covered with TRP, Standard Mfg and saving for a Nighthawk custom. Good looking out though. My main point was when it comes to buying surplus. When trying to get accurate pricing on k98, sks, 1903, etc people love to quote prices that were relavent 40 years ago and I'm happy for them but they serve no purpose for people looking at current values. Apparently though my comments made me a whining newb millennial who rubs people wrong and doesn't appreciate how good I have it. Sincerely thank you for the post though
 
Climberman said:
On the flip side, you can get an AR for less than $500 these days. I remember when you were talking more like $1000 for a base model AR.
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I remember when gun shows were the only place to see an AR. And none of them cost less than 1000 1990's dollars. Back when $1000 was really a lot of money.
 
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