Collecting Standard versus Deluxe |General Discussions & Questions|Forum|Winchester Collector

In my opinion the “Deluxe” guns are better guns. They tend to have grade of walnut I enjoy and overall workmanship is often better. I also believe they make better investments. That said, the standard guns often have more character. I’m trying to avoid adding more shooters to my modest collection but I seem to prefer a “been there, done that” specimen over a safe queen. I can certainly identify with the former and no one will ever mistake me for the latter. I’m trying to focus my acquisition efforts on high condition standard guns but haven’t found many that interest me lately. 

Mike

I agree with most of what you all say.  When I was young I could not afford the deluxe guns so I searched for the pretty nice standard guns.  Now I have a few deluxe guns too.  I don’t consider my collection as an investment but it will always be worth something. The deluxe guns do hold their value better.   The old adage of buy the best you can afford still hold true.  Good guns are easier to sell when you want to trade up.  And as TR said, I have less guns but I have nicer guns. 

I don’t own any Winchesters actually made before 1900 and haven’t followed their prices. I’ve only owned five other-than standard grades made before 1964 and, of those, only one was made before WWI.  That one, a fancy Model 1907 with a cracked forearm, I sold for less than I paid for it.  The others are a 1950 Model 70 Super grade 30 Govt ’06, the 1947 Model 21 Skeet everybody knows about, and two 1949 Special grades, a 71 and a 64. 

So I have neither seen the elephant nor heard the owl. But here’s my opinion anyway: 

First, when I say “deluxe” I don’t mean the gold plated Model 70 Super Grade engraved by the last Ulrich and inscribed with a personal note from Hilary Clinton to Lou — the ultimate definition of a really rare pre-64 Winchester. 

Let us take my 1949 short tang Model 71 Special as a more typical specimen. About 98 almost 99% condition, SG swivels included, flawed only by the absence of its Lyman 56W and 3276/M hood. About a click short of $2K with the tax in 2001. Throw in a C-note for a hood and $275 for a NNB Redfield 80FT. 

$2375 in 2001 inflates to around $4700 USD in 2025. I don’t think it would bring close to that. Easier to sell than an equivalent Standard grade? Probably but not at a big premium. 

Always wanted a 71 Special, won’t sell it, but I’m of the opinion the average deluxe Winchester is not a viable retirement plan investment, condition for condition, compared to standard. 

Zebulon said
I don’t own any Winchesters actually made before 1900…
  

Bill,

You need to take a walk on the wild side.😄

It’s a good thing we all have slightly different tastes, this game wouldn’t work very well if we were all after the same guns!

Mike

I thought the market has shown that condition is valued over special order features.  Of course, if you can afford a Winchester with special order features and condition, go for it, but if you have a high condition standard rifle or a rifle that is brown and with features, the high condition rifle should be more desirable over the long run.

Lou,  I’m crushed you won’t share your good fortune. I wish I’d been able to meet your mother-in-law.

Actually, we should be promoting HRC to make one last presidential run.  Her party is already in circular firing squad formation and within it (the party) she is still popular. Her running mate could be NYC’s likely future mayor elect. 

“A contingency furiously to be hoped” — to steal a line from the late Max Beerbohm.

oldcrankyyankee said
Probably get a spankin’ here but I have no problem with any pre war II Winchester in very good condition. Just picked up one of my dream rifles, a model 92 src in 44wcf. No fancy wood or checkering, just a fine condition rifle. I say buy what you can afford, just make sure it is legit. And as I say a $2000 gun is always going to be a $2000 gun. Most of us do this for the enjoyment and hope to pass it on the next generation.
  

Tom, to avoid getting beaten up, you have to post a complete set of photos of the carbine.  All my boyhood heroes — maybe not Flash Gordon — had a Model 92 SRC in their scabbards. I think Sky King kept one in the Songbird. They were all likely 44 WCF caliber so the Hollywood gun wranglers could load them with their three-in-one blanks. Always wanted one.

Actually, I’d forgotten to mention my own 1929 vintage Model 92 25/20 rifle,  the one in tub toy grade I rescued from the parts market. I had it restored approximately to its former glory by one of our better local custom gun makers (good enough he now runs the Dallas Beretta Custom Shop.) Mint bore that can manage minute-of-squirrel-head, from bench rest. A shooter, not a collectible, but my sons will have

That’s as close to a Model 92 SRC as I’m likely to get. My Winchester 1873 SRC in 38/357 has made me forget its absence. That was aided by the recent gift of a vintage Star reloader in prime condition, modified to use a Dillon case feeder. (In passing I want to pay tribute to the dear friend who gave it to me because he’s starting down the Long Trail.) Right now I’ve set it up for .38 Special 158 grain cast semi-wadcutters, which the Winchester shucks and shoots nicely. It does need a tang sight, which I’m about to remedy. 

Tedk said
I don’t buy guns from any of the online gun sites or auctions. Seems like the majority of Deluxe/Special Winchesters are offered on these platforms. I have found more than my share of high condition Standard Winchesters and a couple Deluxe guns in my travels though
  

I agree that condition trumps style, except in the case of rare, unquestionable and important provenance.

If I were going (and financially able) to seriously collect high condition Winchester centerfire lever action rifles and carbines made during the 19th Century, I would be disinclined to buy them sight unseen, unless I had a good prior relationship with the seller and were given a reasonable inspection period. 

However, given the price of such arms, there is a large pool of highly skilled fraudsters willing and able to convincingly turn a wormy, mange-ridden stray into a show dog. I don’t have the expertise to detect the really good fakes.

For that reason I think I would prefer to buy 85 to 90 percent guns with fine bores, that show some evidence of honest, careful use.  I would stay away from rare calibers and configurations, but not necessarily deluxe grades.

I suppose my thinking is:

1. The increase in price from, say 90 percent to 98 percent condition can be very disproportionate. 

2. It requires an unusually disciplined craftsman/faker to give up the fat end of the profits by backing off a rifle restored to 100% by more points than absolutely necessary for verisimilitude.

3..Ergo, the attractive but somewhat lesser condition guns.are safer.