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February 17, 2022
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My mind wanders sometimes. Lately it has been looping around the idea of have guns with consecutive serial numbers, pick your poison for models. My question is, how do others feel about it? Do you place a higher value on the guns as a pair or simply the gun is the gun, is it something you strive for in your collection, I am just noodling around.
March 31, 2009
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Consecutive serial numbers will add to the value. How much depends on the condition and rarity. Here is one set I stumbled upon
May 14, 2025
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oldcrankyyankee said
My mind wanders sometimes. Lately it has been looping around the idea of have guns with consecutive serial numbers, pick your poison for models. My question is, how do others feel about it? Do you place a higher value on the guns as a pair or simply the gun is the gun, is it something you strive for in your collection, I am just noodling around.
The Blue book of gun gun values says you can add $100 to the value for a consecutive pair and while conventional wisdom says it increases value, I don’t see it in real life. I watch auctions a lot and when consecutive serial #’s are sold together they tend to sell for less than 2 sold individually. My thoughts are it simply lowers the pool of buyers interested at that price point? I have watched smart sellers list each gun separately but note they are a consecutive pair and those do better than if they are sold together. I don’t personally see the big deal in consecutive serial #’s except for my buddy who did a consecutive set of 67 Winchester Classics ( Rifle and Carbine) with his son and well that is meaningful beyond $’s. His son is 12 and they hunt together and the thought is some day when the son has his own son, grandpa will pass down his rifle to his son and the son will give his carbine to his son. For those lucky enough to get dads or grandpa’s rifle passed down, I would imagine the Value on that is priceless! Just my 2 cents. Curious what others think?
March 31, 2009
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I’ve seen a lot of consecutive guns sold and some auction houses will let the buyer of the first one buy the second one at the same price. Quite often the buyer only buys the first one. But like I said, if the guns are rare $100 won’t cover it. In my case I really wanted the second Garand but I knew I’d better buy the first one. The second one was the better rifle but I paid less for it.
November 7, 2015
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Maybe it’s a matter of perspective. For the seller it’s a selling point and for the buyer it’s a plus, a non-factor or a chance to give his poker face a try. I’m a numbers guy so if I saw a nice gun with a number consecutive to one of mine I’d probably try to buy it.
Mike
July 17, 2012
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I have quite a few consecutive number guns but did not pay extra for them in general. But I am a sucker for interesting serial numbers and will pay a little more for them such as “100000” , “777”, “1894” on an 1894 rifle, etc. I know that is an irrational collecting point but they make me smile and, in the end, that is all that matters.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
March 31, 2009
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I know a Colt collector who wanted any Colt model with serial numbers 1 to 100. It took him years to do it but he did succeed.
August 8, 2024
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JWA, You have great wisdom! You reach the top when your realized that making you happy is the most important thing.
November 7, 2015
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Bo Rich said
JWA, You have great wisdom! You reach the top when your realized that making you happy is the most important thing.
Exactly! Playing with the toys I have is more fun than chasing those I don’t.
Mike
April 30, 2023
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TXGunNut said
Bo Rich said
JWA, You have great wisdom! You reach the top when your realized that making you happy is the most important thing.
Exactly! Playing with the toys I have is more fun than chasing those I don’t.
Mike
Can confirm, Mike plays with toys.
April 15, 2005
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Generally speaking, consecutively serial numbered Winchesters are of no real consequence. I have documented more than 1,000 sets of them in my many surveys. With very rare exception the two consecutive serial number guns are unrelated to one another, and very seldom were they assembled and sold as a pair. When one studies the factory ledger records, it becomes readily apparent that consecutive numbers have very little if any significance.
Now having stated that, there are a few exceptions to the rule. This set pictured below is definitely one of them, as they were ordered as a pair, and just happen to be the final two “pre-1964′ Winchester Model 94s manufactured.
This pair of Fancy Carbines were formerly in longtime WACA member Bill Bean’s collection. Unfortunately, Bill passed away last year and I believe were sold by RIA.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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