I have a reprinted 1927 Bannerman catalog. The amount of military hardware available was staggering! Guns, ammo, kit of all kinds, even Gatlings!
56-50 Spencer ammo was $1.50 per 100; $13.75 per 1000!
"100,00 Spencer Rim Fire Cartridges, 56-50 calibre. Packed in pack, 6 packs in paper box, 1,000 in case.These are copper shell, lead ball cartridges with the fulminate contained inside the rim. Used in Spencer, Peabody, Palmer, Ball's, Scott Triplett, Ballard and Joslyn rifles and carbines.
To all whom we have sold, they have given fairly good satisfaction." Blanks were the same price.
Spencer carbines "in working order" were $4.50.
By comparison, military 45-70 Peabody rifles in "good, serviceable condition" were $2.95.
Oh, to have been around at that time with a pocket full of cash .....