A Rough Guide of the Cost of Guns During WWII

[bamboomaster]

So you think you got a deal today picking up a Glock 19 with a few extra mags for $550 or that EBR (Evil Black Rifle) with the nickel boron bolt for under a thousand? Back then you (well, the government) could purchase most of these for what amounts to a couple/three WAWA breakfasts. Depending on what you're driving these day, the more expensive models (except for the "Ma-Duce" .50BMG) might be like ONE monthly car payment.

I know the comparison isn't totally fair because some of these models were built by slave labor (Work faster! Otherwise I send you to the chambers...) and materials were heavily regulated through government price controls. And of course, it didn't hurt to order 500,000 or more units every six months or so.

Here's a link to WWII gun porn that makes today's prices (largely the effect of the inflationary policies of the Federal Reserve for the last 50 years) seem more than a bit, well, inflated: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/fea...wwii-guns.html

Luger P08 $13
M1911 .45 $15
MP40 $24
Thompson SMG $45
M3 Grease Gun $15
MKII Sten $11
Mauser 98k $28
StG 44 $44
M1 Garand $31
M1 Carbine $45
M1918A2 BAR $319
M2 "Ma-Duce" $1,560
M1919 A4 $579
Bren Gun $180
MG 42 $100
MG 34 $131

[Sparks]

Now balance that against other prices; How Much things cost in 1942 Average Cost of new house $3,770.00 Average wages per year $1,880.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents Average Cost for house rent $35.00 per month Bottle Coca Cola 5 cents Average Price for a new car $920.00 http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1942.html

[streaker69]

Not to mention, back then kids had to walk to school barefoot, in the snow, up hill, both ways.

[MT1]

Now balance that against other prices; How Much things cost in 1942 Average Cost of new house $3,770.00 Average wages per year $1,880.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents Average Cost for house rent $35.00 per month Bottle Coca Cola 5 cents Average Price for a new car $920.00 http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1942.html

That's just great. My time machine is almost complete and I had plans to travel back to 1943 and buy everything on bamboomaster's list until you had to go and remind me I'll be making $36/week. You suck

[bamboomaster]

Now balance that against other prices; How Much things cost in 1942 Average Cost of new house $3,770.00 Average wages per year $1,880.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 15 cents Average Cost for house rent $35.00 per month Bottle Coca Cola 5 cents Average Price for a new car $920.00 http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1942.html

Great assessment. I guess the Federal Reserve has really done a bang-up job of inflating the currency to the point where it takes considerably more dollars today to purchase the items you mentioned and that "way-back machine" pricing!

[Pilot321]

74 years is a long time, and we are looking at 3% - 4% annual inflation for many of those items, which is not out of line.

[Noah_Zark]

Not to mention, back then kids had to walk to school barefoot, in the snow, up hill, both ways.

I did.

Noah

[Remington788]

I'm not sure how you blame this on the Federal Reserve.
Plenty of other factors come into play in driving costs.
Since the only item on that list still being manufactured for general sale is the 1911 (I can buy a Colt 1911 at my LGS but not a MaDuece), ask why Colts price has gone up. I would think the cost of labor is the biggest factor. In 1942 people worked for lower wages, first because they were happy to have any job after the Great Depression. But also because people saw the war effort as a patriotic duty. Now the workers are unionized and the company has to cover million of dollars in pension costs.

Very cool article though.

[bogey1]

I'm not sure how you blame this on the Federal Reserve.
Plenty of other factors come into play in driving costs.
Since the only item on that list still being manufactured for general sale is the 1911 (I can buy a Colt 1911 at my LGS but not a MaDuece), ask why Colts price has gone up. I would think the cost of labor is the biggest factor. In 1942 people worked for lower wages, first because they were happy to have any job after the Great Depression. But also because people saw the war effort as a patriotic duty. Now the workers are unionized and the company has to cover million of dollars in pension costs.

Very cool article though.

[Kabloosh]

I'm more curious about inflation. 14 dollars then is not 14 dollars today.