Hello, everyone.  While snowed in, I spent my time drooling over the original Sharps Borchardt Mid & Long Range match rifles pictured in Sellers book.  And in back of mind figuring how long I would need to scrimp...or hit the Mega Ball in order to afford one of these beauties!  Which got me thinking..at $100.00 to $125.00 1878 dollars...what would that be in todays devalued paper?

Some five years ago or so a magnificent Borchards 1878 LR Target Rifle sold at Amoskeag? (sp) for US$ 50.000.00. At the time it was said by the auctioneer that it was perhaps the finest Borchardt in existence. Less than two years ago another Borchardt LR sold for US$ 78,000.00. I haven't seen a picture of this latter rifle, but it certainly must be something to look at. 

Over 50 years ago when I first started shooting, an original Colt Walker in magnificent condition (for its age) could be had for US$ 20.000.00, today you would have to pay 1.5 million US Greenbacks for the same pistol, or perhaps more. 

I have always been hampered in the purchase of firearms by being born with a wooden spoon in my mouth instead of a silver one. 


Harry

With the historical low interest rates, I wonder if many antique guns are being bought as investments. The price of antique firearms have skyrocketed since 2008. I paid $300 for a thick side Hiwall in 84, wonder what it would bring now.
Mike

dealing with historical research I often use the 
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calculator cited above.  however it is still a tough call since so many factors are involved.   there is another formula system (I can't find my notes on this 'puter to cite it) that bases the calculation on the relative values of a bluecollar workers labor to acquire various commodities--- I.e. the number of hours required to purchase a loaf of bread, a pair of shoes etc.   However commodity prices are extremely subjective to supply demand cycles and transportation costs.

How many hours worth of wages would one of the Sharps semi-skilled factory workers have to spend to buy that 125$ rifle?   How many hours worth of wages for a modern semi-skilled worker to purchase a modern factory made rifle with similar functional values---not a custom made replica or an import knock-off--or an original.


Amazingly most of the difference between prices then and now is inflation, and while wages seldom keep up they do rise in the long haul.  (current situation probably being an aberration that will be corrected in the long haul) Because of technological advances in ALL areas of raw material extraction and processing and MFG production as well as better faster more efficient transportation, many goods and services are LESS expensive now than then once inflation is factored out.

BP wrote on Jan 12^th, 2014 at 10:09pm:


Using my scale for a $100 rifle, at a $20 per (modern day) hour, it would be 39, eight hr days. I'm sure those miners where working 12 hr days though.

Frank

if my calculations are correct 
20 an hour X 8 hours = 160 a day
160 x 39 days= $6240
160 x 60 days or at least 2 months=$9600
I don't think(my opinion fwiw) for 39 days you can't find an origonal Sharps Borchardt Long Range for that kind of money today. More like 2 months is what I see.
Don

Don

In 1952 we moved to Texas and my dad went to work for Dow Chemical for 1.60 an hour, he had been making 11.00 a week. We thought we were rich. Two years later he bought a new Plymouth for 1200.00 cash. We moved into a duplex rental with a slab, indoor bathroom and a tv. Never had any of that before. I was in the 5th grade. We were not rich but a lot better off than most of our relatives had ever been. I owned a Remington single shot and now I have as many as I want, we are much better off and enjoying it.

Too bad that Al Story was/is such a lousy business person. If he wasn't, you would be able to purchase a new reproduction Borchardt for around $4-5K, depending on the wood, extras, etc. Al lost his FFL (after years of repeated warnings by the Feds) and can no longer make them.