Gun magazine ads circa 1955

Via Ol' Remus

This is just the way it was. Send a check or money order, the gun was sent to you by parcel post. It was an ordinary transaction in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Winchester's M1 Carbine was adopted in late 1941 and initially issued to officers and NCOs, tankers, drivers and similar. They soon found their way into frontline use however, airborne troops for one, with mixed results. 6.5 million were manufactured. Production cost for the carbine was about half that of an M1 Garand. The M1 Carbine in various versions were used in quantity well into the Vietnam era.

Source: surplusrifleforum.com

Magazine ad circa 1958

Also available by for delivery by common carrier, the 20mm S-18 Solothurn was seven feet long and weighed a hundred pounds or more, depending on the model. The $189.50 1958 price would be $1,510 in today's dollars. In 1940-1941 the US Army planned to purchase a small quantity of this weapon from its nominally Swiss maker, then manufacture it here under license but negotiations were not successful. In Greek mythology, Cadmus was the sower of dragon's teeth, from which sprang armed men. 20mm is about 8/10 of an inch.

 Source: theguncounter.com