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Advice - Monetary & Collectable Value - Model 70's
Marner
Member Posts: 2,977
I need some guidance from some of the knowledgeable folks on this forum. I have three rifles that I would appreciate comments on. As I get longer in the tooth I'm thinking about what to eventually do with these rifles. I particularly would appreciate knowing what monetary value they might have, what if any collectable value they might have, and any general comments or opinions.
I'll try to describe them the best I can.
Winchester Model 1892. All original. Cal. .25.20, 24 inch octagon barrel W/ full length magazine. Mounted W/ Lyman Peep Site with patent date & I believe factory mounted. The wood is solid with no cracks or serious gouges but has several marks & small dents. The bluing is pretty good with wear on the barrel edges and around the receiver and is taking on a brownish hue. The barrel and rifling is good - no pitting or rust. I can't judge the percentage of barrel/rifling wear but the rifling appears sharp & well defined. Ser No. 2947XX which I believe puts it around 1915. I acquired this rifle from the son of the original owner.
Winchester Model 70. Pre-64. Standard Grade Cal. 30.06. This rifle is as close to being "as new" as it could be - I'd say 95% plus. The rifle is all original. It doesn't show any use not even shelf wear. The checkering is sharp and the wood to metal fit is perfect - It's definitely all original absolutely no refinishing. Ser No. 2541XX. D.O.M. around 1961. It's mounted with a Williams Peep Site. I acquired this rifle about 25 years ago from the widow of the original owner - she claimed he had hardly ever used it which is consistent with its condition. I fired a few rounds at the time and have only ever wiped it down and ran the odd patch since then. I'm wondering if the Williams Peep could be factory mounted? I apologize for the reflection of the flash on the wood which gives it an unnatural shine.
Winchester Model 70. Pre-64 Standard Grade Cal. 300H&H Mag. Ser. No. 3499XX, D.O.M (circa) 1954. The rifle is in excellent condition. The barrel is shiny and the rifling is sharp and well defined. The bluing is solid with some wear around the bolt, trigger guard and bottom plate. The wood is in excellent condition - no scratches and only a couple of tiny marks that one must look closely to even find. The wood has a bit of a shine or sheen to it which makes me wonder if it might have had a light sanding and refinishing at some point. On the other hand the checkering looks sharp and well defined not appearing to have been sanded. I wonder if the stocks on some of these rifles were finished with a more shiny surface than others? If anyone can give me an opinion of the question of the refinishing based on this information and the photos I'd appreciate it. I acquired this rifle about 10 or 11 years ago. The fellow I bought it from said he had it about 25 years and had bought it from the original owner. He assured me he had never refinished the wood and didn't think it had been prior to him buying it. Because of the sheen I always wondered if he was being entirely truthful. If it was refinished I wonder how that would affect its value and or desirability. When I first acquired the rifle I installed the Leupold VX3 2.5-8 scope, sighted it and took it with me on the next couple of moose hunts and haven't used it since.
Any and all comments will be appreciated.
I'll try to describe them the best I can.
Winchester Model 1892. All original. Cal. .25.20, 24 inch octagon barrel W/ full length magazine. Mounted W/ Lyman Peep Site with patent date & I believe factory mounted. The wood is solid with no cracks or serious gouges but has several marks & small dents. The bluing is pretty good with wear on the barrel edges and around the receiver and is taking on a brownish hue. The barrel and rifling is good - no pitting or rust. I can't judge the percentage of barrel/rifling wear but the rifling appears sharp & well defined. Ser No. 2947XX which I believe puts it around 1915. I acquired this rifle from the son of the original owner.
Winchester Model 70. Pre-64. Standard Grade Cal. 30.06. This rifle is as close to being "as new" as it could be - I'd say 95% plus. The rifle is all original. It doesn't show any use not even shelf wear. The checkering is sharp and the wood to metal fit is perfect - It's definitely all original absolutely no refinishing. Ser No. 2541XX. D.O.M. around 1961. It's mounted with a Williams Peep Site. I acquired this rifle about 25 years ago from the widow of the original owner - she claimed he had hardly ever used it which is consistent with its condition. I fired a few rounds at the time and have only ever wiped it down and ran the odd patch since then. I'm wondering if the Williams Peep could be factory mounted? I apologize for the reflection of the flash on the wood which gives it an unnatural shine.
Winchester Model 70. Pre-64 Standard Grade Cal. 300H&H Mag. Ser. No. 3499XX, D.O.M (circa) 1954. The rifle is in excellent condition. The barrel is shiny and the rifling is sharp and well defined. The bluing is solid with some wear around the bolt, trigger guard and bottom plate. The wood is in excellent condition - no scratches and only a couple of tiny marks that one must look closely to even find. The wood has a bit of a shine or sheen to it which makes me wonder if it might have had a light sanding and refinishing at some point. On the other hand the checkering looks sharp and well defined not appearing to have been sanded. I wonder if the stocks on some of these rifles were finished with a more shiny surface than others? If anyone can give me an opinion of the question of the refinishing based on this information and the photos I'd appreciate it. I acquired this rifle about 10 or 11 years ago. The fellow I bought it from said he had it about 25 years and had bought it from the original owner. He assured me he had never refinished the wood and didn't think it had been prior to him buying it. Because of the sheen I always wondered if he was being entirely truthful. If it was refinished I wonder how that would affect its value and or desirability. When I first acquired the rifle I installed the Leupold VX3 2.5-8 scope, sighted it and took it with me on the next couple of moose hunts and haven't used it since.
Any and all comments will be appreciated.
Comments
Also, you say the 300 wood looks different than the 30-06. 300 wood looks more like what I would expect on a factory Win.. The 30-06 wood looks "rough". Joe
EDIT: Marner, here's a recent discussion (2 topics) on the bridge holes. Hope I helped. Joe
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=283542
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=283824
Don't think the .300 H&H came from the factory with holes for the rear mount. May hurt value. (Had holes on the side only).
Also, you say the 300 wood looks different than the 30-06. 300 wood looks more like what I would expect on a factory Win.. The 30-06 wood looks "rough". Joe
Thanks Joe
That's the problem with photos and lighting, The wood on the 30.06 is not rough but I can see in the photos why you say that. The wood is actually smooth with a nice low lustre sheen to it. I have 2 pre-64 94's which are near mint and the wood on them is almost identical to the 30.06. If you could see the rifle in real life I'm sure you'd agree.
I'm very interest in your comment about the 300 H&H possibly originally only having the side holes? I wonder where I might enquire further about this or if anyone else can confirm?
Appreciated...
Ron
Your first Model 70 (serial 2541XX) was manufactured mid year 1953 (versus 1961).
Your second Model 70 was manufactured in the year 1955.
I can not say what either of the Model 70s is worth in today's market.
WACA Historian & Life Member
Your Model 1892 was actually manufactured circa 1907 (versus 1915). The condition is typical for a well used Winchester of that era, and value is in the $750 range.
Your first Model 70 (serial 2541XX) was manufactured mid year 1953 (versus 1961).
Your second Model 70 was manufactured in the year 1955.
I can not say what either of the Model 70s is worth in today's market.
Bert H
Thanks for your opinion on the 1892 and the date corrections.
If anyone has knowledge / opinion / comment on the model 70's I'd appreciate hearing from you.
Cheers