What are Your thoughts on the ’94 on the R.I.A. current on line auction. ser# 17841, lot #2075 with the matted barrel. I don’t recall seeing one with the matting done over the barrel address, plus the checkering is different. The ones I have the barrell address is moved to the side. It does “letter” but. What am I missing here?
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Jeremy P said
Bert H. said
That rifle is authentic and rare. The estimate price is uncharacteristically low. I expect that it will sell for at least 2X the estimate price.
Bert
Any thoughts on the matting over the barrel address?
As I stated, it is authentic (factory original). I have seen at least a few dozen early production Winchesters with similar factory roll matted barrels. The Winchester address marking position was not changed when a special order matted barrel was requested.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Here’s the direct link: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1046/2075/special-order-winchester-deluxe-model-1894-rifle
Note the “professionally restored case colors” in the very bottom condition description…..does this not affect the collector value (considering everyone here) like a bluing refinish would? Or do you all think the colors are original?
Jeremy P said
Here’s the direct link: https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/1046/2075/special-order-winchester-deluxe-model-1894-rifleNote the “professionally restored case colors” in the very bottom condition description…..does this not affect the collector value (considering everyone here) like a bluing refinish would? Or do you all think the colors are original?
While a “hands on inspection” might reveal something the high-resolution pictures of that rifle are not showing me, it is my opinion that the case colors on that rifle are untouched (factory original). Typically, when a receiver frame is prepped to be recase color finished, it is buffed & repolished causing it to lose its original surface texture… I see no visual indications of that. Further, the new case colors tend to be much brighter & more vibrant than what is exhibited on that rifle. Based on the muted case colors on the receiver frame, hammer, and lever, I highly doubt that it has been refinished. If somebody did recase color it, that person is extremely talented (and very scary) and could make a tremendous amount of $$$$ doing that kind of work.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Jeremy P said
That’s interesting and I thought they looked original as well, was just wondering what I was missing here….glad you said it!
The important thing to keep in mind is that many of the people employed by the various auction houses to write the auction descriptions are not true “experts” as it applies to accurately evaluating and describing the many thousands of firearms that they catalog for their respective auctions. Like nearly everyone else, for many years I mistakenly assumed that the auction services employed knowledgeable people to evaluate the firearms they sell. Through numerous personal discussions that I have had with them during the past 30+ years, I have learned not to trust most of what they say & write. Without calling people and auction houses out by name, the one we are currently discussing is one of the worst.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Jeremy P said
That’s interesting and I thought they looked original as well, was just wondering what I was missing here….glad you said it!
The important thing to keep in mind is that many of the people employed by the various auction houses to write the auction descriptions are not true “experts” as it applies to accurately evaluating and describing the many thousands of firearms that they catalog for their respective auctions. Like nearly everyone else, for many years I mistakenly assumed that the auction services employed knowledgeable people to evaluate the firearms they sell. Through numerous personal discussions that I have had with them during the past 30+ years, I have learned not to trust most of what they say & write. Without calling people and auction houses out by name, the one we are currently discussing is one of the worst.
I get it….they’re in the sales business after all! Nothing’s taught me more about buyer beware than my last couple of years learning about the Winchester market!
Jeremy P said
I get it….they’re in the sales business after all!
Auctioneers in it for the dough? Seeking to line their own pockets? Oh, no! Shocking! And here I was believing all along they were altruistic philanthropists! What a treacherous world it is for poor simple souls like myself!
Well I’d bet a dollar to a dog biscuit the case colors are not original, I see horizontal, as should be, and vertical, as shouldn’t be, striations on the metal. I’m trying to find out who the restorer was. Still a beautiful, and rare ’94 however. I will be bidding on it.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
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