Little Wattsy
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Any idea how much a new Colt Model 1848 Percussion Army Revolver would of cost in 1848?
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How much new..?
- Thread starter Little Wattsy
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Hmmmmm. :hmm:
I don't know what the price was but Flayderman's indicates the only Army Revolver that was made in 1848 was the Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver.
That should narrow down the search.
I don't know what the price was but Flayderman's indicates the only Army Revolver that was made in 1848 was the Colt First Model Dragoon Revolver.
That should narrow down the search.
Poor Private
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The 1848 Baby Dragoon(Wells Fargo) was made from 1847 thru 1850, with approx. 15,000 being manufactured.
Billnpatti
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I wish I could remembere where I read it, but just recently I read that at that time most revolvers sold for the princely sum of around $25 to $35. Some were more expensive and some less but that was the range given for most decent revolvers. I wish I could remember where I read that. I guess when you reach my age, your rememberer is pretty full and it is hard to get new stuff to stay in there.
To respond tangentially, in 1873 a [new] Colt M1873 cost one ounce of gold, give or take. Today, a [new] Colt M1873 costs one ounce of gold, give or take.
What I suggest is rather than attempt to cost in dollars or other currency, cost in anything that has retained its real value equivalence. Precious metals, although skewed in value, the "market basket," etc. might provide more meaningful information.
Hope this helps.
What I suggest is rather than attempt to cost in dollars or other currency, cost in anything that has retained its real value equivalence. Precious metals, although skewed in value, the "market basket," etc. might provide more meaningful information.
Hope this helps.
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I would offer, additionally, that the wage of the 'average working man' was substantially lower during this period of our history, so the outlay for what many would consider a pretty important tool would be considerably high, proportional to his relative 'earning power.'
just a thought ...
just a thought ...
Yes, the 1848 Baby Dragoon was made during this period but the OP asked about Army Revolvers and although officers often bought their own small pistols I don't consider a .31 caliber pistol to be an official Army revolver.
I believe the book YANKEE ARMS MAKER by Jack Rohan, 1948 Harper & Brothers, USA, gives the answer to the OP.
In chapter 17 (pp 169-177) information about the year 1848 shows that Whitney backers stirred up Congress about the costs of the revolvers Colt sold the government for the "Mexican Contract".
"On March 28,1848, the Senate passed a resolution asking for information about the entire Colt business, and on April 13 President Polk sent it a brief message along with a report of the Secretary of War:
'To the Senate of the United States:
In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 28th of March, 1848, I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of War, transmitting a report of the head of the Ordnance Bureau, with the accompanying papers relative to the firearms invented by Samuel Colt. Such is the favorable opinion entertained of the value of this arm, particularly for a mounted corps, that the Secretary of War, as will be seen by his report, has contracted with Mr. Colt for two thousand of his pistols. He has offered to contract for an additional number at liberal prices, but the inventor is unwilling to furnish them at the prices named in his offer.
The invention for the construction of these arms being patented, the United States cannot manufacture them at the government armories without a previous purchase of the right to do so. The right to use this patent by the United States the inventor is unwilling to dispose at a price deemed reasonable.
James K. Polk'
On page 171, the chapter goes on to say:
"...As the controversy over his profits continued to rage, he (Colt) suddenly offered to make ten thousand revolvers with all accessories for $25 each. If he received a contract for a hundred thousand he would reduce the price even more, he informed the War Department..."
A bit of research I did indicates that $25 would be around $710 in today's dollars.
I believe the book YANKEE ARMS MAKER by Jack Rohan, 1948 Harper & Brothers, USA, gives the answer to the OP.
In chapter 17 (pp 169-177) information about the year 1848 shows that Whitney backers stirred up Congress about the costs of the revolvers Colt sold the government for the "Mexican Contract".
"On March 28,1848, the Senate passed a resolution asking for information about the entire Colt business, and on April 13 President Polk sent it a brief message along with a report of the Secretary of War:
'To the Senate of the United States:
In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 28th of March, 1848, I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of War, transmitting a report of the head of the Ordnance Bureau, with the accompanying papers relative to the firearms invented by Samuel Colt. Such is the favorable opinion entertained of the value of this arm, particularly for a mounted corps, that the Secretary of War, as will be seen by his report, has contracted with Mr. Colt for two thousand of his pistols. He has offered to contract for an additional number at liberal prices, but the inventor is unwilling to furnish them at the prices named in his offer.
The invention for the construction of these arms being patented, the United States cannot manufacture them at the government armories without a previous purchase of the right to do so. The right to use this patent by the United States the inventor is unwilling to dispose at a price deemed reasonable.
James K. Polk'
On page 171, the chapter goes on to say:
"...As the controversy over his profits continued to rage, he (Colt) suddenly offered to make ten thousand revolvers with all accessories for $25 each. If he received a contract for a hundred thousand he would reduce the price even more, he informed the War Department..."
A bit of research I did indicates that $25 would be around $710 in today's dollars.
don hepler
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I read somewhere, that a Long rifle, in the late 1800's was about $10. A factory built Colt, would probably have fetched a bit more. Probably had to sell a few pigs and ewes, to raise that kind of money.
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