What was the MSRP of your favorite big bore handgun in 1978?

[Cholo]

Last Nov. I posted a thread titled:

What was the MSRP of your favorite .22 in 1978?

I saved some old magazines and I recently pulled this one out for a good read. 22LR is my favorite cartridge and I'll bring three 22's for every CF I bring shooting. I do question Jim Woods Winchester 9422M shooting 1 1/2" groups at 100 yds LOL So what did our favorite .22's cost in...

www.rugerforum.com

Here are the MSRP's of some popular big bores in 1978





SS will mean Stainless Steel

Double Action Revolvers:

Colt Python Blued 4 and 6" $349.95

Colt Python Blued 2 1/2" $339.95 Yikes! 😲

Colt Trooper MKlll Blued $245.95

Charter Arms Bulldog $142

Ruger Speed Six .357 SS $154

Ruger Security Six SS $182

Ruger Service Six .357 SS $154

S&W Model 19 $188.50

S&W Model 27 $289.50

S&W Model 28 $162

S&W Model 29 $298.50

S&W Model 66 $202

S&W Model 58 Blued $159

Dan Wesson Pistol Pac Model P15-2 $395-$550

Single Action Revolvers:

Colt New Frontier $366.95

Colt Single Action Army Blued #311.95-$317.95

Ruger Blackhawk Blued $134.50 SS $164.50

Ruger Super Blackhawk $180

Semi Autos:

Colt Government MK IV Blued $234.95

Colt Combat Commander Blued $234.95

Colt Gold Cup $314.95

Colt LW Commander Blued $234.95

Detonics .45 Auto $395

Star PD $245

TDE Auto Mag $750

There's a lot more. Let me know if you want a price on a variation such as nickel or a model I didn't cover.

 

[BearBiologist]

Paid $200 for my 1976 Super Blackhawk (Due to scarcity)

 

[the_leper_colony]

My favorite big bore didn't exist in 1978.

 

[jimbo1096]

My first big bore was a 4 5/8" NM Blackhawk bought from Brittian's Sporting Goods in Shreveport, LA in About '78, I think it was for $145 - 150. It was slightly used and I was 2nd owner and still have it after thousands of rounds.

 

[hittman]

In 1978 my favorite was any of the Six series Rugers.
A little later, 41 Magnum Redhawk.

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

I paid $200 for my Colt Gov't....
My Dan Wesson was $148.00...... (oops... that was 1979)...
Earlier in 1978 (pre-colt) I bought my first Ruger... a 3 screw .357.... It wasn't new but I paid $75. It came with a western holster and a box of rounds...
At 16 years old, I was a pretty effective gun buyer..... Where there is a will.. there is a way....

 

[dstegjas]

My dad paid $125 (new) for his Ruger Super Blackhawk back in 1970. Here is the receipt for it. I still have the box, receipt and pistol today. With only about 2 boxes of rounds through it. It’s in excellent shape. Not sure what it’s value is today but it’s priceless to me.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

Dunno 'bout "favorite" but I was in college and bought a NIB Colt Python for $300 from Davis Guns in Louisville in '78. Mebbe '79?

Anyway, I gave it to my son a few years ago. He calls it his Unicorn.

I also gave him a Jim Clark built Colt Mk 4/Series 70 I bought at M&M Guns in Murray, KY. Paid $234 for it. Clark and Trapper Guns did their magic on it and I had ~$700 into it before all was said and done.

The 1911 was when I learned to never go crazy with mods. I learned to buy a gun, make minimal mods (grips, mainly, if anything), and just leave it be.

 

[KIR]

I like the word "ambiguous" as it makes one who uses ambiguous words, mysterious...
Big Bore, little bore, where do you draw the line. Different people will give you different opinions.
My first big bore? pistol was a Ruger Single Six with the two cylinders. The .22 WMR and the .22 LR. I bought it for $78. It was probably overpriced as that LGS is still one of the higher priced stores to buy any sporting related things.
It was not until 2006 that I bought my next firearm. A Ruger KP345 .45 acp. for $419. Still one of my favorites.
The last one that I purchased was a Browning HP MK III 9mm that sat on the shelf for a year after mfg. date. I searched for one for over a year, until I finally found what was probably the last one in town. It cost $1110. That was in 2016. It is my #1 fave.
All three were NIB.

 

[RSIno1]

In 1977 my wife bought me a Super Blackhawk for our 5th wedding anniversary. It was about $150. I still have them both.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Big Bore - Definitely includes handguns that start with '4" . Optional in that era to include .357 Magnum , in the context of full power loads .

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Keep in mind that with inflation , $1 in 1978 = $4.50 in 2022 .

Minimum Wage went up to $2.65 in '78 , a significant jump from the previous $2.30 .

If you made $5/ hr in '78 , you were big time .

 

[Gator89]

I was still in high school.

 

[jbenedetto2]

Picked up my S&W 29 for $204.00 in 1974.

 

[buckeyeshooter]

I bought my first Smith and Wesson 29-2 Nickel with 6.5 inch barrel with the wood presentation case. It was purchased in 1979 at Vance's Shooters Supply in Columbus, Ohio for $465.00

 

[fas111]

In 1971 I bought a new Browning HiPower for $112.00 from Numrich Arms.

 

[Boxhead]

IIRC I gave $325 for my new wood boxed 8 3/8" nickel M29-2 in 1978. I was 17. A bit off topic but here a receipt from many years later for my 5" M610.

 

[langenc]

Bought a Smith K 22 in 1967 form $98.

In 1967 bought a Smith 357, blued, Model?? for $90 from a hardware going out of business. Reg price??

 

[Hvymax]

Dan Wesson pistol pack 44mag $700-750.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

The Dan Wesson 44 mag vent heavy barrel Pistol Pack I bought in 1981 I don't remember how much I paid for in maybe $400 +-

 

[Bad Barlow]

The Dan Wesson 44 mag vent heavy barrel Pistol Pack I bought in 1981 I don't remember how much I paid for in maybe $400 +-
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Does anyone remember when Ruger was giving a $50 factory rebate if you would (please, please)buy a revolver?