Rifle Cost

[btech]

After working on my second ML build, I'm amazed at the amount of hand labor and time involved. The guys that built these back in the 1700's must have charged quite a bit for their rifles. Anyone know what a flintlock made back then would cost in today's dollars?

 

[GANGGREEN]

That's a good question and I have no idea what the answer is. I think I've read that the average shop (whatever that is) would count on building one rifle per week but that often involved doing all of their own blacksmith work and everything. Also, some shops had a man and his sons, some had an apprentice or two, etc. so I'm not sure exactly how many man hours went into each build back in the day.

 

[matt denison]

How 'bout this:

A northwest gun that sold for $7.00 in 1820 now sells for $1275.00 plus shipping and ain't nobody getting rich from the sale either.

 

[Vaino]

Between $12- $18......Fred

 

[Richard Kemp]

Google "Inflation Calculator 1800".Plug in $7:00 for that Trade Gun. In 2012(the most recent year this calculator goes to) it would cost you $113.14. There's definitely somethig more than inflation involved.

 

[Black Hand]

One must keep in mind the cost of materials and manufacturing of the components, as well as labor, has increased over time as well. At the time, labor was cheap and standards were different, as was the cost of living.

It isn't a straight price to price comparison...

 

[user 922]

George Weicker was one of the best Bucks County builders. He worked there until 1800, when he moved from the area. It was common for the Bucks guys to sign their guns on the (side opening)patchbox lid. Weicker often added the price of the gun, which was $15.00 for a gun, and $18.00 for a rifle.

 

[Bruce Bogart]

I'd give double for one of his guns Eric!!!Maybe even triple.........

 

[Davemuzz]

How 'bout this:

A northwest gun that sold for $7.00 in 1820 now sells for $1275.00 plus shipping and ain't nobody getting rich from the sale either.

Do you know what a new Ford cost in 1820?

 

[Rod Lassey]

Google "Inflation Calculator 1800".Plug in $7:00 for that Trade Gun. In 2012(the most recent year this calculator goes to) it would cost you $113.14. There's definitely somethig more than inflation involved.

You're comparing apples to oranges. A better comparison would be the cost of a gun versus average yearly income, then and now.

For instance, the average trade rifle ran around $11 wholesale from the maker to the fur company. They turned around and sold it in the $15 range. However, consider that the average engagé working for that fur company made around $120/year. In other words, that engagé wanting to buy a rifle would spend just over 1/10 of his yearly income to do so.

The comparison today would be a person who buys a $1500 custom rifle and only makes $12,000 to $15,000 per year. As a percentage of income, we generally are spending quite a bit less today to purchase the same firearm than folks in the past.

If you want to look at NW guns, and the Indians, they paid around 10 buffalo robes per NW gun. If we consider that a modern tanned buff robe today is in the $600-$800 range (or higher), that NW gun that laffindog sells should cost us $6000 to $8000. Luckily, Matt doesn't charge 'mountain prices'!

Rod

 

[kaintuck]

if you plowed a field all day....$1.00
cut frewood for 12 hours~ $1.00
like fred said, $11-15 for most rifles, muskets were less. shillings/pounds were currency up till 1800's and more in some areas....
freshing a barrel .25 cents, stocking a rifle...$2.00 maybe.....

oh yeah.....we have it good these days!

 

[matt denison]

"It isn't a straight price to price comparison... "

Not by a long shot. The guy in 1820 didn't have to pay Social Security, disability ins. liability ins. electric bill, a dozen different taxes. Didn't have a phone bill or website or internet to pay for. On and on.

 

[Lock Nut]

A very nice fancy grade Hawken rifle $20.00.
Probably about $2500.00 today. Or you could trade for 2 horses or one squaw. Or was it 2 squaw or one horse? :idunno:

 

[don hepler]

Two yews and a pig. I researched the cost a couple years ago, and in late 1800's a rifle was about $10. I think that's a considerable amount when you think back to 1960, a new 22 single shot was 19.95. That's probably not a good comparison, but, it does make me think $10. was a lot of money.

 

[kaintuck]

A very nice fancy grade Hawken rifle $20.00.
Probably about $2500.00 today. Or you could trade for 2 horses or one squaw. Or was it 2 squaw or one horse? :idunno:

a ugly squaw wasn't worth much...unless she could cook... :stir: :rotf:
now a "paris" squaw costs more.......

 

[blackdog of vt]

Christiansbrunn, the 9th September, 1773

Most valued Friend Martin Baer,

At your request I have prepared [completed/finished] a good rifle and sent it over to Mr. John Hopson together with 4 pounds of Powder. The rifle is decorated [inlaid] with silver wire and well made, as well as tested and she shoots right well. It has a double trigger, so that you can fire with the triggers either unset or set. Between the triggers there is a screw with which you can make it lighter or harder to fire. There is also a ball puller with which you can pull the ball out no matter how rusty she gets. She costs 8 pounds all together and with the powder @ 3 shillings per pound makes twelve shillings, for a total of L8.12.-. Because it is very good powder I have added two pounds more than you requested. I hope it will suit you well. You can write me a couple lines to let me know how you like it. Together with friendliest greetings I am your faithful

friend and servant,

Christian Oerter

So 8 pounds isn't anything different than what someone pays now for a decent rifle realative to your wage. If you figure then 750 pounds is about 48k now which was a higher end wage then. By comparison John Adams cleared about 1000 pounds a year.

 

[BrownBear]

Back when the gunnies were building rifles at Williamsburg I spent a bit of time talking to them. They even forged their own barrels, as was done in that era. Don't remember the zact price they charge for their guns, but my geezerly brain cells say it was in the $20,000 range.

For me there's quite a conundrum when you start figuring how to earn a living wage with hand work. I don't sell shooting bags for example, because they're just going for too danged little money.

If I have 12-14 hours in a bag, I'm sure as shooting not selling it for the prices seen in the ads here on the site. That would mean I'm paying myself something on the order of $3-$4 and hour for my craftsmanship. Bullpucky. I'll go pick fruit with the immigrants at minimum wage before I'll sell my craftsmanship at those rates.

I figure minimum wage for me is somewhere north of $10 an hour, and I'd quit that job in a heartbeat for $20 an hour. Figure a guy has 100 hours in a gun built from bought parts, and come up with your own figure of what's a "reasonable" price. If he's making most of his own parts PLUS forging a barrel, I haven't a clue how many hours he'd have in the gun. But he wouldn't build many guns at $10 an hour if he was having to pay for his shop as well as support a family. The math just isn't there.

 

[George]

A neat reference, but strangely modern language for 1773... can you tell us where that quotation came from, please?

Spence

 

[blackdog of vt]

Its in the Pennsylvania State Archives and was translated from German, which gives it that character.

Building now is similar to then, most of us have other jobs or ideas on how to make ends meet. If we take Andreas Albrecht for example as skilled a rifle maker as he was, started the gunsmith school at Christian Springs, taught music school, and managed an inn.

 

[George]

Its in the Pennsylvania State Archives and was translated from German, which gives it that character.

Thanks.

Spence