[DesmoEd]

I just received a factory [email protected] letter on my antique Frontier .44-40 - it shipped to E.C. Meacham's in St. Louis in 1892 .

After researching Meacham's operation, I found a company that reprints their catalogs from the period and ordered a copy dated Jan 1885

They list the Model 1881 at $32 (28 in octagon barrel) Add $5 for a double set trigger

Ballard #5 Pacific with 30 in barrel in a variety of calibers was listed at $30

For comparison, the 1876 Winchester also with 28 in barrel octagon barrel was only $29 and to add a set trigger was only $4.
Here is the cover:

 

[cj57]

The old catalogs are cool and a wealth of information!

 

[Gallo Pazzesco]

That is so dang cool! I did the same thing with a 1911 my Grandfather and Father passed-down to me and it's just fun as heck.

Of course, $32.00 was a lot of money back then, probably close to a month's pay for most.

Does your catalog also show Winchesters, for comparison?

 

[DesmoEd]

I referenced the 1876 model above.

To my surprise, the 1881 Marlin cost several dollars more than an equivalent '76 Winchester