Interesting - 1897 Sears catalog.

[cshold]

From a reprint of an 1897 Sears catalog...

Not MSRP list prices but Sears prices which were lower.

Unless otherwise stated, all guns are side-by-side double-barrel shotguns.
Nearly all were available in both 10 and 12 gauge. A few were also available in 16 gauge.
All were offered as full/full choke.

Parker Hammer - twist barrels ............................. 39.50
Parker Hammer - Damascus barrels ...................... 54.25
Parker Hammerless G or H grade ......................... 51.30
Parker Hammerless - twist barrels ....................... 41.70

Colt Hammerless ............................................... 51.30

L C Smith Hammerless - twist ............................ 31.75
L C Smith Hammerless - laminated steel ............. 37.22
L C Smith Hammerless - No. 2 ............................ 49.63
L C Smith Hammerless - No 3 ............................. 61.20
L C Smith Hammerless - Pigeon ........................... 89.75

Charles Daly Hammerless ................................... 129.00 - 189.50

W W Greener ejector ........................................ 187.50

Ithaca Hammerless - twist ................................. 26.00
Ithaca Hammerless - Damascus .......................... 36.82
Ithaca Hammer ................................................. 19.95

Remington Hammer .......................................... 22.50
Remington Hammerless .................................... 33.00 - 70.00

New Baker Hammer ......................................... 19.85

Winchester lever action shotgun ....................... 16.88
Winchester pump action 1897 shotgun ............. 16.88

Remington single shot .................................... 6.95

Using the Historical Currency Conversion Chart (Frink) that takes in the prices of a house, a loaf of bread, etc. the 1897 dollar was equal to $25.59 in today’s dollar. You do the math (Parker G = $1312.76).
While Sears did sell some guns at lower prices, Parkers, Greeners, Winchesters & Remington’s were not discounted.

[TedH]

Oh to go back in time...........

[Booger Bill]

True, but I also heard my great grandpa never made over $350s on his best year!

[TedH]

No, not to go back and live there. Go back, get some guns, then return to present day!

[Old Ironsights]

Leverguns via Sears 1900 catalogue...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... gsp001.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y180/M ... gsp002.jpg

[Pisgah]

True, but I also heard my great grandpa never made over $350s on his best year!

Yes, and life expectancy was less than 50 years. I'm with TedH -- 1897 might be a great place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there!

[KCSO]

Hey things havent changed that much. A $20 gold piece would get you a new Winchester in a pretty deluxe grade and it still will! One of the hardest tasks is to equate buying power. For example In 1890 you might make $30 a month, but you didn't have to buy insurance for your horse, no phone bill no electric bill, you probably didn't commute to work. No medical insurance either. No income tax no S/S or medicare. So a direct hour to buy isn't right either.

As to the health issue mst of the average age was due to infant mortality and childhood disease. If you made it to 21 you had a pretty good chance to make it to 65, barring accidents.

I discussed this with a forensic pathologist last year and his opinion was that if you factored in medical treatment Dodge City was tame compared to just about any modern city. He claimed that in his investigations just about every gunshot wound and stabbing would have survived with modern treatment.

[Big Bore 94]

A loaf of bread or a beer were a nickle then. Nowadays four bucks.

[tman]

the cost of living compared to wages was probablly at it's best in the 1970's. it took a nose dive around 1982 , and has been losing ground ever since. . with the decline of American farming, manufacturing, and mining, don't look for it to get better.