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Scenario: You have 5-7K to spend at the November WACA show in Reno….
Interests: You main likes are 73’s and 66’s……
Question: What would you look for? Obviously 66’s would be on the short list because of the budget…..so do you go for a nice Condition 73 or do you go for a uniqueness/rarity not so great condition 73…..short rifle, xtra long barrel, etc……of course caliber would also be included in the “unique” factor
So you guys with tables…..be nice to me in November! 
I would buy about 8-10 really nice pre-64 bolt action .22’s………….
See you there!
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Manuel, I’m a sucker for a long barreled 73. 32″ and longer look nice with the double hangars. Best piece of advice I was given early on was buy the best condition you can afford and you’ll not be disappointed. I know a lot of guys that had to try and sell brown condition Winchesters in the past few years and it was unpleasant for them. Had there been fewer but much nicer blue guns they would have been much happier.
Casey
I will echo what Casey said. Buy one gun, the nicest you can afford rather than multiple lesser guns.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
So it sounds like condition trumps uniqueness/rarity…..at least when it comes to a 73….what about a 66 in that same dollar range….rifle or carbine
I would buy a whole bunch of “cement mixer” grade ones and stay busy with lots of projects……… 
Erin
I love a nice 66 as well but finding an honest, unmolested example in that range with any condition will be a tall order. A seat at that table is closer to 10k on up.
JWA said
I would buy about 8-10 really nice pre-64 bolt action .22’s………….See you there!
I would definitely think twice if i found a model 70 in 22 hornet…..that was real
http://merzantiques.com/item/rare-special-order-2nd-model-1873
Would this be worth it……I would really like to add this to my collection. However I highly doubt this would still be available around that time.
The trick is to not buy a problem gun and throw your money away in the process. I know there are guys that love shooter grade guns and would buy a room full of them and they would be ecstatic. It all depends on what you want to collect.
Condition fall under the category of rarity. When you find a gun with a lot of condition, it is rare since bulk of the 66’s don not have a lot of condition. 73’s you have more guns with condition but still condition is a rarity. I have bought guns that have uniqueness i.e. long barrels, engravings, plating, heavy barrel and other features. I have guns with little condition but have a rare feature i.e. open top 73’s. The other type of guns that are collectable are guns that have history to them, not guns with a good story but documented history. Over time your taste in what you want to collect will change.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
A nice 73 in 22lr.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
1873man said
The trick is to not buy a problem gun and throw your money away in the process. I know there are guys that love shooter grade guns and would buy a room full of them and they would be ecstatic. It all depends on what you want to collect.Condition fall under the category of rarity. When you find a gun with a lot of condition, it is rare since bulk of the 66’s don not have a lot of condition. 73’s you have more guns with condition but still condition is a rarity. I have bought guns that have uniqueness i.e. long barrels, engravings, plating, heavy barrel and other features. I have guns with little condition but have a rare feature i.e. open top 73’s. The other type of guns that are collectable are guns that have history to them, not guns with a good story but documented history. Over time your taste in what you want to collect will change.
Bob
I never really thought about putting condition in the same category as rarity. That’s a new way to look at things. What do you think about the gun in the link I posted
Nice gun, it has a lot going for it and it will only go up in value.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Online
I would half to agree with Nanzca on the ’66. A nice clean untouched ’66 rifle or carbine is going to run way above your $7K, unless it’s a very late gun. Of course, your idea of a nice gun, might be a lot different than mine. If I were looking for another ’73 and I probably am, I personally like the earlier guns. I like standard and deluxe rifles and carbines. My sweet tooth leans toward the standard 24″ octagon sporting rifle in .44 cal., and I really like the heavier of the two standard weight barrels. They made both 23/32″ across the flat and 27/32″. If you play with enough 73’s you can definitely see and feel the difference between the two. You’ll find the heavier barrel weight primarily in the 1st and 2nd model, although I do have several 3rds with this weight also. $7K might get you a pretty decent rifle.
November 7, 2015
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Interesting dilemma, interesting responses. I hope to be in a similar situation for the Cody show, if my boss doesn’t behave I’ll possibly make Reno as well. I think it depends on your situation. In my case I think I have enough shooters and project guns to keep me busy for the foreseeable future. I like them because they’ve obviously been there, done that and it won’t hurt to take them to the range or even hunting because they’ve been doing that for several generations.
The other category I’ll call pride & joy guns, some may call them safe queens. They command premium prices and seem to present the best investment opportunity. Between the 1866 and 1873 the decision would be easy for me, it would be the 1873 because of the variety of chamberings and the ability to take it to the range if I really want to.
The good news I see here is that we all won’t be competing for the same rifles at the show, there will be something for everyone as usual.
I will be at Tulsa in a few weeks but already looking forward to Cody.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Only thing I own with that many zeros is a checkbook… and theyre all on the west side of the dot.
I have to agree though..a 22 in hand makes you feel rich while walking the aisles.
44
November 7, 2015
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JWA said
The good news I see here is that we all won’t be competing for the same rifles at the show, there will be something for everyone as usual.I will be at Tulsa in a few weeks but already looking forward to Cody.
Regards,
Quite likely, JWA. When I recovered from the shock of my first Cody show I realized that if I had gone there looking for a Winchester, any Winchester, it was probably there. Reminds me of the Warren Zevon song except for the part about lawyers. I simply didn’t bring enough money or trading material. Silly me, I didn’t realize there would be hundreds (OK, thousands) of desirable Winchesters there
This year, I’ll be better prepared. A bit more cash, some trading material, a C&R license and I even rented a table so I could have a place to hang out. My shooting buddy got his kitchen pass revoked last year but he says he’ll make it this year. Either way, drop on by. I’ll bring an extra chair.
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