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July 31, 2005
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Ben gave me the challenge to price out a Model 1876 rifle based on the 1877 price list so here goes.
$45.00 – Rifle, caliber .45-75 (only caliber available until 1879), 28 inch octagon barrel
$05.00 – Set trigger
$05.00 – fancy, checkered stock
$05.00 – case hardened finish
$60.00 – total price based on the 1877 price list, so that would be three liberty head double eagle $20 gold pieces.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
July 3, 2020
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Bill…. I’m not an expert on current 1876 values… but with those options, and if the condition was “as new”… looks pretty close to me…with gold in the $4,200 range, is $12,500 in the ballpark for your “example”? I’m sure caliber would seriously effect values too… anyway, thanks… I’m always curious about the “old” things I collect compare to when they were new. cheers. Ben
May 23, 2009
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Bill Hockett said
Ben gave me the challenge to price out a Model 1876 rifle based on the 1877 price list so here goes.
$45.00 – Rifle, caliber .45-75 (only caliber available until 1879), 28 inch octagon barrel
$05.00 – Set trigger
$05.00 – fancy, checkered stock
$05.00 – case hardened finish
$60.00 – total price based on the 1877 price list, so that would be three liberty head double eagle $20 gold pieces.
That is an interesting comparison. The value of those today could be if each coin contains 0.9675 troy ounces of fine gold, giving it a baseline melt value based purely on its weight. At current gold prices (~$4,185/oz), the base melt value alone for a single coin is roughly $4,050, making three coins worth at least ~$12,150 purely in raw gold content. Not factoring in any of the coin’s condition, and associated value with the mint origin of the coin.
So is a 100% original 45-75 WCF caliber Rifle with Set Trigger, Fancy checkered stocks with case hardened finish worth $12,150.00?
Possibly so. 
Sincerely,
Maverick
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March 31, 2009
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Bill Hockett said
Ben gave me the challenge to price out a Model 1876 rifle based on the 1877 price list so here goes.
$45.00 – Rifle, caliber .45-75 (only caliber available until 1879), 28 inch octagon barrel
$05.00 – Set trigger
$05.00 – fancy, checkered stock
$05.00 – case hardened finish
$60.00 – total price based on the 1877 price list, so that would be three liberty head double eagle $20 gold pieces.
Where did you find the information? The 1879 catalog lists the rifle as $35, set trigger $4, fancy stock $5, checkered stock and forearm $5, Pistol grip, fancy, checkered $15, case hardening $1.
October 19, 2008
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That $60.00 in 1877 translates to $1,914.17 in 2026.
What passes for a dollar ($1.00) in 2026 would only get you 3 cents ($0.03) in 1877.
Jim
July 31, 2005
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Chuck said
Bill Hockett said
Ben gave me the challenge to price out a Model 1876 rifle based on the 1877 price list so here goes.
$45.00 – Rifle, caliber .45-75 (only caliber available until 1879), 28 inch octagon barrel
$05.00 – Set trigger
$05.00 – fancy, checkered stock
$05.00 – case hardened finish
$60.00 – total price based on the 1877 price list, so that would be three liberty head double eagle $20 gold pieces.
Where did you find the information? The 1879 catalog lists the rifle as $35, set trigger $4, fancy stock $5, checkered stock and forearm $5, Pistol grip, fancy, checkered $15, case hardening $1.
I got the information from the Model 1876 prices in the August 1877 price list. It was a four page list that included the prices for the Models 1866 and 1873, but only the Model 1876 prices were shown in Houze’s 1876 book. See the other thread.
Winchester lowered the prices on the Model 1876 with the May 1, 1878 catalog. The octagon barrel sporting rifle was reduced from $45.00 to $35.00.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
May 23, 2009
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30gov03 said
That $60.00 in 1877 translates to $1,914.17 in 2026.
What passes for a dollar ($1.00) in 2026 would only get you 3 cents ($0.03) in 1877.
Jim
Ah Yes, but also NO. You are correct, simply based on a rate of inflation calculator. But the 1877 money was backed by the Gold Standard and the U.S. Dollar was until 1971. Thank you Richard Nixon.
So its more accurate to compare the value from the weight of $60 worth of gold coins to the current value of gold today. Because back then money was gold or silver and not worth nothing like it is now! And the value of the weight of just the gold is irrespective of the value of the gold coin.
Now take a look what it would be if you had a qty. of 60 dated silver 1877 $1 Trade Dollar coins.
- Total Silver Weight: 60 coins × 0.7876 troy ounces = 47.256 troy ounces of pure silver.
- Current Silver Price: $57.38 per troy ounce.
- Total Melt Value: 47.256 oz × $57.38/oz = $2,711.55.
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December 21, 2006
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You could say the same holds true for these old Winchesters, they are worth a lot more intact than they would be if melted down. That $60.00 deluxe 1876 in mint condition , almost priceless, but melted down , about $5.00
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
March 31, 2009
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Maverick said
Ah Yes, but also NO. You are correct, simply based on a rate of inflation calculator. But the 1877 money was backed by the Gold Standard and the U.S. Dollar was until 1971. Thank you Richard Nixon.
So its more accurate to compare the value from the weight of $60 worth of gold coins to the current value of gold today. Because back then money was gold or silver and not worth nothing like it is now! And the value of the weight of just the gold is irrespective of the value of the gold coin.
Now take a look what it would be if you had a qty. of 60 dated silver 1877 $1 Trade Dollar coins.
Value BreakdownTotal Silver Weight: 60 coins × 0.7876 troy ounces = 47.256 troy ounces of pure silver.
Current Silver Price: $57.38 per troy ounce.
Total Melt Value: 47.256 oz × $57.38/oz = $2,711.55.
Collector Value vs. Melt Value
It is crucial to note that U.S. trade dollars are highly sought-after historic items. You should never melt them down, as their numismatic (collector) value dwarfs their raw silver value. Even in heavily worn or circulated condition, a genuine 1877 trade dollar regularly sells for $175 to $400+ per coin. For a collection of 60 authentic coins, the market value could realistically range from $10,500 to well over $50,000, depending heavily on their condition and mint marks.
So basically almost as close as the same amount of money in silver vs gold by comparison.
If I only had a time machine.
Many years ago, my mother invested in a lot of silver. She figured out that the profit margin was the same percent for gold and silver and it was cheaper to buy silver. She bought the silver for $8 per ounce and sold it for $40 when the Hunt brothers tried to corral the market. She also sold all of the silver coins in her collection. They brought a higher price per ounce. But not all gold or silver is worth the same per ounce. Some bars or coins will bring more money when sold buy will cost more to buy.
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