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Joined: 22 Jan 2015 Posts: 345

Seeing the premium some folks pay for old ammo got me to wondering....
If you could go back in time for one day, say 1932....and had $250 you could spend on whatever you could buy at a hardware store, and fit into a footlocker to be left in an old barn and recovered by you in 2019....what would you get?

P.S. I'm talking about anything you might wish to purchase, for any reason. A bunch of paraffin might be a good idea too.

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 696 Location: WA/AK

From 1929 to 1949, Western Cartridge Co. offered a 12-gauge 3-inch Super-X Live Pigeon load with 1 1/4 ounce of Lubaloy #7 or #7 1/2 shot. I'd lay in about five cases of them. I've been watching Ward's Auctions for years and have never seen such a box come up. This Lubaloy shot folder is from May 1930.

The load marked with the *.

At the most recent Ward's Auction this more common 2 3/4 inch Lubaloy Super-Trap full box sold for $945 --

and this one for $709 --

Whatever shotshells had birddogs, birds or people in the graphics.

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

Member Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 1338

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

1932? Fox Xe 16 ga. with straight grip and beavertail forearm would be about $250.

During my lifetime? I would go back to my college days and stop laughing about the rattle trap SKS. They were $20 apiece wholesale if you bought them in crates of ten. I would buy every crate I could, stash them and then resell them after the big Obama era scare that sent prices of these things through the roof! Then I could afford that Fox XE anyway...and have the gas money to keep it busy for decades!

Joined: 22 Jan 2015 Posts: 345

By 1932, Colt had released their commercial variant of the Browning BAR, known as the Monitor I believe. Not sure if $250. would quite cover the cost of one but they go for the high 5 figures today, and could be broken down to fit in a trunk. Otherwise, the Tommy gun and several 1911’s could be had for that. Maybe get the proprietor to go through his change drawer and trade you some interesting coins too. Some of those old calendars go for quite a bit. Bet a few classic revolvers would fit too.

Joined: 03 Sep 2014 Posts: 398 Location: Rochester, MN

I inherited my grandfather's 12 gauge Model 12 Winchester. It was manufactured in 1932. I use it regularly for waterfowl hunting. It is not exactly a thing of beauty, but to me it is priceless.

Sounds like at least a few of us have recently watched Costner in the Highway Men on Netflix.

If I did the calculations correctly, $250 in gold in 1932 is worth over $15,000 today.

Does the hardware store carry gold?

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

Model 12 in 16 gauge.

Kind of an oddball request.....but I would like a new Hunter Arms Fulton 16 ga. 28" barrels choke I/C & Mod.

Gentlemen,

1932 is not far enough back for most of the guns I would purchase to bring forward for todays market. It would need to be before 1913 and I would bring a few 16 Gauge #5 L.C. Smith double guns, along with the Special Order A4 L.C. Smith 12 gauge that John Hunter Sr had made for my GreatGrandfather. Add to that a half dozen Parker DHE 28 gauge double guns, and a few 16 gauge Grade 5 LeFever double gun also. Along with a case of L.C. Smith pre 13 Hammer Guns in every gauge ever made by Hunter Arms. 2 cases of A Grade Fox double guns in all the different gauges ever made. A case each of H&R 28 & 20 Gauge Hammer guns. I could think a a lot more to a dd to the list.

Pine Creek/Dave
L.C. Smith Man

Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 2124 Location: Hudson,Wy

Dave, pretty sure you busted the budget of $250...even in pre 13 terms. An hour ago I did bring home something from your favorite era...more on that later, I'm going to go bust clays now!

Kevin Costner? Highway Men? Never seen it.

Joined: 04 Mar 2019 Posts: 1837 Location: Central ND

Pine Creek/Dave,

I can appreciate your enthusiasm!! Cool

WyoChukar,

Never believed in a budget, can't make money using a budget.

Pine Creek/Dave

Joined: 22 Jan 2015 Posts: 345

You are limited to what would fit in a foot locker though, ha. I can imagine a lot more than guns from a hardware store which might bring much interest today. Many of these stores of that era were mini dept stores which carried some jewelry too. Perhaps the gold mentioned above could have been obtained.

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 696 Location: WA/AK

The OP was talking about ammo, so I just went with that. For ROI in a shotgun I'd have to scrape together an extra $6.60 and order that $256.60 (January 25, 1932 price list) 32-inch, straight gripped, DE-Grade, Ansley H. Fox, 20-gauge.