The thread "Were parts kits importable prior to the 1986 gun law changes?" made me think of this, but I wanted to start a new thread, so I didn't want to derail the discussion by posting an off-topic reply there.  A while back, I found old issues of Guns Magazine in PDF online.  Here is an issue from August 1955.  The ads will make you cry.  Page 51 has a British make anti-tank rifle available via mail order for under $100.  You can get the same American made for $108.50.  Some of the surplus handguns available are great!  They even have a full page ad in the back for the store where I bought my first shotgun.  It closed down a number of years ago.  

What I find interesting is how the topics of firearms articles never really seem to change.  Page 38 discusses in detail the argument of what the best sidearm is for police.  That is a timeless classic!  Page 12 goes into how poor police firearm training is.  I am sure we all have heard that a million times.  Page 28 talks about what is wrong with firearms legislation.  It even has accompanying photos of police destroying confiscated weapons by throwing them in a lake.  It is just the photo-op you would see today.  Give us another 50 years, and we will still be having the same arguments.  

Just thought you guys might find this interesting.