Winchester Collector - Forum: General Discussions & Questions

MCorrell on Model 1892 in 25-20 rebarrel project

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:38:52 +0000

Thanks Pete. I’ll be looking for the whole story. I’ll be sure to keep good notes on my project as it moves on.

Zebulon on Is the value of 75-98% Winchesters down sine the Election of 2024…or not?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:25:14 +0000

I don't follow these prices closely but I think antique Winchester lever actions with less than perfect condition - at least the popular models made in large numbers like the 92 and 94 -- are not bringing what they once did for several reasons:

1. While there are some young collectors of the genre, it seems to be mainly a disease of the elderly. Who are dropping like flies as the 21st Century proceeds.

2. Those guns are not really rare - there are increasingly more than enough to go around. Those in unquestionably perfect condition are locked in institutional or family collections that seldom enter the market.

3. Like it or not, FN-sponsored production of the 1873, 92, and 94 appeal to many Winchester fans and compete for market share with original Winchester lever actions in less than mint condition. While you might not care whether a 95% Model 92 can be shot because 44 WCF is hard to buy in shootable quantity, there are apparently a large number of ignorati willing to spend fifteen hundred bucks for a very nice new 92 that shucks and shoots 357 magnum pistol cartridges. Their plastic works as well as yours and this choice once did not exist.

4. The Old West of fact and fiction now competes with G.I. Joe and his descendants, apparently all of whom are or were long range snipers obsessed with 1000 yard targets. Quigley helped Shiloh and C. Sharps, not Winchester.

Perhaps an apostate's opinion, but the numbers don't lie.

Buck1967 on Is the value of 75-98% Winchesters down sine the Election of 2024…or not?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:28:40 +0000

If the market has slowed down someone forgot to tell Leroy Merz.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/winchester-rifles-model-1894-pre-64/special-order-winchester-model-1894-straight-stock-deluxe-rifle-in-25-35-wcf.cfm?gun_id=103559939

However, there are 2 other 1902 1894’s for sale on GI for $1500 to $1995. The $1995 appears to be in less condition than the one in this thread while the $1500 looks restored and certainly would lend credence to yet another thread on here discussing restoring actually hurts the value!

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/winchester-rifles-model-1894-pre-64/winchester-1894-32ws-1902-mfg-saddle-ring.cfm?gun_id=103096001

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/rifles/winchester-rifles-lever-pre-64/1902-mfg-winchester-model-94-octagon-bull-barrel-32-winchester-special-trades-welcome.cfm?gun_id=103539020

TXGunNut on Is the value of 75-98% Winchesters down sine the Election of 2024…or not?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:21:45 +0000

Ian-

I think the 80-90% segment of the market is a bit soft but I think this rifle should have done a bit better. I do agree that it seems to be a buyers' market but that may be because there aren't enough buyers for a gun like this one. If that's the case we may never see this gun bring what we think it should bring. I'll be interested in what the folks who went to Tulsa think the market condition was there. The TGCA show is in two weeks but I think some prices have been soft at this show for a few years. I'm looking at some estate guns now and the seller wants what they were worth several years ago and I'm not sure I will be able to help her out.

Mike

mrcvs on Is the value of 75-98% Winchesters down sine the Election of 2024…or not?

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:49:21 +0000

A great time to buy, IMHO.

This came up on another thread, but many might not follow it as it’s buried in a thread drift of a problematic Winchester 1892 for sake.

75 to 98% is the sweet spot for me, I generally don’t dabble in the 100% stuff, too much premium for that, and questions as to refinished or not. I sometimes might go as low as 75% if I need to, but generally 85 to 95%.

Here’s a 1902 production Winchester 1894 SRC that is in the uncommon.32-40 caliber and has condition, with tang sight. A forum member offered it for sale on this forum early last year for $6500. Too rich for my blood. Moved to Gunbroker, penny start, no reserve. My records show total cost, shipping, taxes, FFL fees to have been $2,802.41. It seems a LONG time prior to this (18 March 2025) that one could get something this nice for this little. Feel free to post examples to this thread supporting my hypothesis or proving that I am completely wrong.

Photographs courtesy of twobit.

Pete Hynard on Model 1892 in 25-20 rebarrel project

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:38:47 +0000

I like the way you guys think too.

I have two centrefire Model '73s. One started life as a .38-40 that had a replacement barrel put on it a hundred years ago, maybe more. The replacement was a Marlin .38-55 barrel that had the chamber cut off, re-threaded to fit the ’73 receiver and re-chambered to .38-40 calibre. My wife bought if for me years ago. I love that gun. The barrel marking still says .38-55.

The bore was a little rough so I tried it with jacketed bullets. It wasn’t a great group and the barrel got much hotter than is normal for a ’73. Turns out, the bore slugged out at 0.381” and .38-40 bullets are 0.400”. No wonder it got hot. It goes to show you that the ’73 action is stronger than you think.

It couldn't stay like that. I had the barrel re-bored and re-rifled to .44-40. Now it has a perfect bore and shoots like an ace. It’s my favourite deer rifle. I attached a target for you to see.

The other ‘73 began life as a .32-20. I bought it as a shooter but it had a rough bore too. My plan had been to re-line it but my gunsmith suggested swapping the barrel with one he had on hand. The replacement was a Marlin .25-36 with a perfect bore, off a Marlin Model 1893. Like my deer rifle, my gunsmith Steve cut the chamber off, re-threaded the barrel and re-chambered it to .25-20. Now both rifles have old, beat-up octagon Marlin barrels and button magazines. They’re a matched set. I attached a pic.

I know what you’re thinking. The .25-20 has a twist rate of 1:14 and the .25-36 is 1:8. An 85-grain cast bullet comes out spinning twice as fast as it should. "Don’t worry", Steve said. "It’s OK to spin them too fast, just don’t spin them too slow."

You can read the whole story in an upcoming Winchester Collector magazine. I think Brad has it planned for the next issue.

Pete Hynard, Ontario, Canada

win4575 on Jim Gordon past away?

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:10:55 +0000

He was a good friend, a keen historian and a gentle man. He was willing to share his vast knowledge with anyone who had questions. Many years ago, he gave me his 1876 Winchester servey material. He had mentioned plans for a book on 1876 Winchesters and possibly one on 1866 Winchesters. He will be missed.

Brad Dunbar on TULSA?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:48:02 +0000

Nice stuff Bob. It's amazing to see old, full cartridge boxes that look that good yet.

TXGunNut on Model 1892 in 25-20 rebarrel project

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:53:44 +0000

I like the way you think. I bought an 1892 in 32WCF awhile back and quite honestly it was a mistake. I doubled down and had it relined, put a Marble tang sight and Lyman 17 front sight on it and it became quite the shooter.

Mike

MCorrell on Model 1892 in 25-20 rebarrel project

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 20:30:58 +0000

My goal is to build what I can’t buy, a nice half octagon barrel model 1892 with a good shoot able bore. Since I have to go the new barrel route I might as well go with CCH of my existing action and components and eventually new wood. This will be a lifetime gun for sure.

1873man on TULSA?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 17:36:34 +0000

Bought a real nice rare box of ammo and areal nice Windage front sight with the box.

Bob

fordwannabe on TULSA?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:54:55 +0000

Well I made it! Saw a beautiful group of guns of all types. Stopped at the WACA booth Thanks for being so gracious to everyone there. I ran into one antler glad to meet a member. Thank you sir.. Now it’s day two and I am taking a break because my feet hurt AND you can’t move without bumping into somebody so I am on a self imposed timeout.

TXGunNut on Model 1892 in 25-20 rebarrel project

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 02:39:50 +0000

MCorrell said

TXGunNut said
If you're set on a replacement barrel I'd go with one as close to original specs as possible. Which cast bullet are you using? I'm not sure you'd get any benefit from single point rifling but that's a question I'd run past Mr. Hunter.

Mike

Hi Mike, I am leaning towards the factory standards which include single point rifling. I have been using Meister bullets with .258 dia and 86 grain weight but now hear they are no longer available. I may start casting my own so that I’ll always have a steady supply. There’s not much written about the 25-20

I have a ball with my 32WCF but was not able to find a 25-20 with a decent bore. I understand that's pretty common. There are some good commercial cast bullets out there but casting may ensure a good supply once you find a bullet that works for you. Sounds like an interesting project. Please keep us posted.

Mike

Chuck on Jim Gordon past away?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 02:13:30 +0000

1873man said
I talked to a guy from that area at the Tulsa show and he confirmed that he past away 10 days ago. He was mid 80’s.
Bob

Sorry Bob.

tim tomlinson on Jim Gordon past away?

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:58:51 +0000

Bob, Sure am sorry to hear that! Yet sooner or later it will come to visit us, too. I corresponded but a little with him in his efforts on the model 1873. I have always greatly admired his doing so and the information he provided. My condolences to his family if any happen to read this. Tim