[alvin]

Originally, I really should stop here. But visited a local gun store today, did not find any guns but saw a book on countertop. Seeing I was flipping pages of the book, the owner said "You could buy it for $3" and raised 3 fingers. "Three", he said.

So I paid $3. It's interesting to see the price of a few guns in 1980s.

Mauser 1910: $225 - $250
Mauser 1934: $250 - $275
Postwar Bolo: $750 - $800
Mauser WTP: $225 - $275
Mauser 1930: $750 - $800
Astra 900: $750 - $800
Interarms Parabellum: $750 - $800
Centennial Hi-Power: $650 - $700
H&K P7: $450 - $460

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[Edit] In preface, author had an interesting paragraph. Here is what he observed in 1985:

History shows that, when the supply of many coveted firearms such as Lugers, Mausers and others dried up nearly two decades back [so, sounds like dried up in 1960s], prices for them skyrocketed. As little as three years ago, a Bolo Mauser pistol in good condition sold for $500 or more, while mint examples commanded more than $1000. I know of one individual who foresaw the supply drying up with the ban on importation of foreign surplus and purchased a dozen Bolo Mausers as an investment [sounds like a very easy task at that time]. At the current going price, he has seen the value of his investment decreased by what he judges is more than $3000 [probably each piece dropped $250]. And with the growing number of importers -- not to mention the huge reservoir of surplus arms still to be released from foreign arsenals and warehouses -- price may well continue to drop for several years.