A recent perusal of the December, 1931 American Rifleman revealed a block ad by Hudson Sporting Goods – titled, Winchester Model 55, “EXTRA SPECIAL.”  Brand new, in original boxes for $24.95 and they note that the original price is $44.70.  

What interested me the most is only .25/35 and .32 W.S. were available (no .30 WCF’s) and only takedown versions.  So, I assume Winchester made them a deal on their slow sellers – their stock that had built up and was not moving.  We know in early 1931, M55 production was changed to solid frame rifles only.  And of course the .30-30 was their strong seller.

Another fun sighting in the classified section of the May, 1929 issue:

Winchester S. S. .40-90 S. S. spotless half-octagon barrel, high comb, close-up pistol grip, Schuetzen set, windgauge peep, almost new condition, shells, tools, $55.

And finally, a real fun one for me from that same magazine:

Colt .45-70 double rifle in new and unfired condition.  No price listed. 

And of course none of the ads have phone numbers.  Every ad has name and address. If you were interested you had to send a letter off.  Many addresses were very brief back then – often first initial, last name and then just the city and state.  No zip codes either.  What a simpler time