A short price comparison Alfa/Winchester

[Nathaniel Myers]

Out of Curiosity I did a short study to compare pricing from my "1911" Alfa catalog to an original 1910 Winchester catalog. I was primarily interested in the price Ratio, not so much the actual prices. This concept of course is flawed I'd you look deeply at the subject, import/export costs, Tariffs, wholesale pricing, shipping across the ocean, etc. this is meant only to be a face value comparison.

I will compose a more constructed write up if anyone is interested with comparison photos from both. It is curious to note, as Axel E has many times, the prints from both catalogs are much the same. Likely from the same plates.

Winchester 1890, 22lr, DM 82, $16
Winchester 1906, 22lr, DM 63, $10.50
Winchester 1873, 44WCF, Carbine, DM 90, $17.50
Winchester 1873, 44WCF, Rifle, DM 94, $19.00
Winchester 1894, .25-35, .30 W, .32 W Sp, Rifle, DM 120, $23.00
Winchester 1894, .25-35, .30 W, .32 W Sp, Carbine, DM 108, $21.00
Winchester 1894, .25-35, .30 W, .32 W Sp, Takedown, DM 145, $29.50
Winchester 1894, .38-55, .32, Rifle, DM 96, $18.00
Winchester 1894, .38-55, .32, Carbine, DM 90, $17.50
Winchester 1894, .38-55, .32, Takedown, DM 129, $25.00

I can do more if any members are interested. I remember Axel E saying in an email that DM was about 4/1 in the early 1900's.

I mainly started this because I was curious looking at several German catalogs what was available at the time when an American might have been making a choice and what his options were. If you had $50 to spend, what might you consider. Of course $50 was a lot of money for someone WITH money, a fortune for the average person.

[Dan Patch]

The thing that immediately catches my eye here is that Winchester wasn't going to give away their nickel steel barrels. The '94 carbine in .32-40 and .38-55 was $17.50, while the same arm in .25-35, .30-30, or .32 Special with the nickel steel barrel was $21. Dan

[Diz]

Nathaniel,

Do you happen to have a listing for an 1885 High Wall? Just wondering what an original cost.

Thanks, Diz

[Nathaniel Myers]

Dan,

Very interesting observation, one that did not even cross my mind. I will look further at the catalog and see if I can not any other differences in relation to the barrel steel. Excellent point to, given the highly competitive nature of steel at the time.

Diz, I will look this evening and send what information I can find. Do you have an email address I can send it to?

[Axel E]

Nathaniel, you find the then,1911, exchange rate right at the beginning of the 1911 Alfa catalog, page XIII: US$ 1.- = Mark 4.20
All the Prices in that catalog were fob Hamburg, so the exotic (for a German then) Winchesters had already been shipped across the pond.
the DM = Deutsche Mark was our post-WW2 Federal Republic currency only. The pre-WW1 imperial Mark was M only.

[Dan Patch]

Diz: When looking into this pricing question I had a quick look at my 1894/95 Montgomery Ward catalog as I wanted to confirm their price for the High Wall. It is a true heart breaker, with the .40-70 High Wall, as well as other calibers, for $10.13. Even factoring in the weird inflation it's a good price. Single Actions Colts were $12. Dan