July, 1949 "American Rifleman" Magazine

[Rick the Librarian]

My wife and I like to poke around in thrift stores and 2nd hand stores and the other day, I came across a July, 1949 issue of American Rifleman, which happens to be the month and year of my birth. I bought it, naturally, and I thought I'd relay what was in it.

--Bausch & Lomb offered a 60mm spotting scope with 20 power eyepiece, $95. I thought, considering prices in 1949, this must have been pretty "high end".

--Mossberg had their Model 142 bolt-action .22 rifle, $21.95. With scope, another $9.95

--The NRA was hosting their 2nd annual national convention in Denver, CO on October 17-21.

--There was an article speculating on the chances of Congress funding the National Matches.

--"DCM Notes" mentioned that the DCM was behind on shipping rifles and were going as fast as they could on M1903 and M1917 Unserviceable" rifles. (I guess some things never change!!). NRA-affiliated clubs could buy .22 ammo from the DCM for $71.50 per case of 10,000 rounds.

--The "Dope Bag" was edited by Julian Hatcher (the author of Hatcher's Notebook) and had a stellar "helping" staff.

--M1917 Enfield stocks in "new" condition were offered in an ad for $2.00; "fancy" grade for three bucks!

--Another ad offered several services to sporterize M1917s - included were grinding the "ears" for $5.00; altering the bolt face for magnum calibers, $15.00; reblue the whole rifle, $10.00 (match that price, Chuckindenver!! ) ; rebarrel (barrel included) $35.00.

--Those who wanted to get M1917s and not mess with getting someone to sporterize them or ordering through the DCM, could buy converted Enfield sporters for $59.95. Those purists who wanted an original M1917, paid $44.50.

--(Gary Bush, eat your heart out) O'Hare M1903 micrometers sold for $4.00, slightly used.

--One ad had an interesting "contemporary" ring to it: Is Factory Ammunition too High? - it was an ad for reloading and promised you could reload for "...5 or 6 cents per round..."

--M1903 Scant stocks sold in one advertisment for $1.90 each, three for $2.90 or a dozen for $12.00; M1 Garand stocks in "used, good" condition, with ferrule, $1.50 each.

--Johnson Automatics (the makers of the Johnson rifle) still offered gunsmithing services.

--Bannerman, well beyond it's glory years, still had a small ad. Among those parts offered for sale: M1903 bayonet and scabbard, $1.50; a "Russian rifle". $23.00, M1903 front sight cover, $25 cents apiece.

--A year's membership to the NRA was $4.00

The old ARs were a LOT more informative than they are today. No "user reports" of gaudy guns sold by advertisers, a lot of articles on actual shooting and working on guns.

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