I found a site that gave 5 dollars to pound in 1938, so about £10. Allowing for inflation that's about £650. Same price as the HW44 sells for today.
Got this chart from the Internet of the conversion of German Marks in the 1930’s:
The cost of a Tell 3 in late 1930’s:
Would be over $50 which at the time was crazy money? Seems unlikely it could be that extreme? I assume the catalog shows a high “suggested” retail price? The Haenel 28R was $18 in the 1930’s? But if half true, could certainly help explain its lack of market penetration at the time. It does seem a very complex, high quality pistol to manufacture at any reasonable cost. It can seem deceptively simple until you examine the patent drawings and appreciate what’s really going on inside.
Last edited by 45flint; 05-05-2019 at 01:54 PM.
I found a site that gave 5 dollars to pound in 1938, so about £10. Allowing for inflation that's about £650. Same price as the HW44 sells for today.
Steve, please check your math: if 1 USD = 2.5 Marks, then 22 Marks = $8.80.
Meanwhile, from the AKAH 1932 catalog, the Haenel 28 was priced at 22 RM, the 28R at 34 RM, and the Mdl 5 Repeater rifle at 70.50.
Don R.
Wow now I wonder how they did it so cheap! Lol. Thanks for correction, my bad. I have a 1934 Hudson Catalog and the 28R is $18, $340 in today’s $. I can see the 28R being more expensive than the Tell 3. Haenel quality is really unsurpassed, a little better finish and bluing. Machining in the 28 repeating mechanism is near perfection. It’s the functioning design with the Tell 3 that just puts it over the top. Foss was very creative.
Last edited by 45flint; 05-05-2019 at 05:16 PM.