[that was a sweet deal even in those times ]
As I remember from my youth, that $80 represented about 2 weeks pay, for the average working stiff.
Doable, but not "sweet", IMHO.
How many firearms do we buy
now, that we give two weeks wages for ?
When I retired three years ago, I was earning a little under $2K per week, and I didn't/don't have any guns I paid $3,500.00- $4,000.00 for; but even for someone earning $600/week, $1200 guns don't come easy - unless you don't eat, use fuel, or something.