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November 19, 2006
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It does have some quirks. I wonder what the sale history of this rifle is? Maybe Michael knows?
November 1, 2013
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RIA’s jive BS descriptions grow more & more obnoxious. Like, does the high-roller planning to lay down 20 Gs need to hear this bloviation? It’s false, furthermore, to call any of Winchester’s slide actions “boy’s rifles.” They were guns the boy’s father might be proud to own.
January 27, 1992
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According to the “WINCHESTER SLIDE-ACTION RIFLES” Volume II book by Ned Schwing: The first Model 62 rifles came with a steel butt plate. RDB
November 1, 2013
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rogertherelic said
According to the “WINCHESTER SLIDE-ACTION RIFLES” Volume II book by Ned Schwing: The first Model 62 rifles came with a steel butt plate. RDB
Gun has obviously been refinished, & bluing on bottom of rcvr. doesn’t look like a factory job to me. For 20 Gs, I’d want to have area around ser. no. X-rayed to discover if there might be some trace of a previous no.
November 19, 2006
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I find it interesting how they dance around the fact that it has the wrong barrel on it, and this was done when it, “likely was refinished at the factory due to such treatment.” What treatment? I guess they mean that because it was treated with serial number 1, it was refinished at the factory? As a rule of thumb for these auction writers, if you don’t know something, or have no specific information, your go-to word is, “likely.”
November 1, 2013
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steve004 said
As a rule of thumb for these auction writers, if you don’t know something, or have no specific information, your go-to word is, “likely.”
True, Steve, but the more obvious distraction is inflating the description with irrelevant BS, such as the history of the model, how it might have been used by the owner, & any other pointless digression the copy-writer can dream up to divert close attention from the gun itself; it’s not only stupid, it’s insulting. The author of this drivel knew nothing about slide-action Winchesters OR boy’s rifles!
November 19, 2006
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clarence said
steve004 said
As a rule of thumb for these auction writers, if you don’t know something, or have no specific information, your go-to word is, “likely.”
True, Steve, but the more obvious distraction is inflating the description with irrelevant BS, such as the history of the model, how it might have been used by the owner, & any other pointless digression the copy-writer can dream up to divert close attention from the gun itself; it’s not only stupid, it’s insulting. The author of this drivel knew nothing about slide-action Winchesters OR boy’s rifles!
I agree Clarence. Bloviate with drivel to create a very long description to help support the illusion that this rifle is really something. I blew up the photo that shows the serial number. It sure looks like fine pitting under the blue. That helped clinch my opinion that there is no way this is a factory refinishing job.
November 1, 2013
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steve004 said It sure looks like fine pitting under the blue. That helped clinch my opinion that there is no way this is a factory refinishing job.
No doubt of it. I suspect it’s a total fake, & a crudely slapped together one at that–kind of gun someone might try to pass at a country auction, where the next item on the block could be an antique phonograph, milk churn, etc. Why would RI even accept a consignment as dubious as this with thousands of far better guns to peddle? Only a metallurgical test of some kind proving “1” was the original number would convince me, & even then the gun is so highly modified that it’s value shouldn’t be great.
November 7, 2015
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Great case study of rarity vs. condition. In my opinion the rarity of the “1” serial number will never overcome the several issues with condition and even originality. Obviously the seller and our friends at RIA are looking for buyers who feel otherwise…and I feel confident they will find them.
Mike
November 1, 2013
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TXGunNut said Obviously the seller and our friends at RIA are looking for buyers who feel otherwise…and I feel confident they will find them.
P.T. Barnum would agree.
April 1, 2005
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There seems to be real fascination for a low serial number gun at the auctions. In September of 2019, at a Rock Island auction, a Model 1894 in serial #8 sold for $57,500 (before the juice). Also, a Model 1886, serial #8 sold for $54,625 (before the juice). Both of these guns were at one time in the Harold McCallum collection and both seriously lacked condition. But, at least in my opinion, the guns were original and correct. You don’t often see single digit serial number Winchesters. I was fortunate enough to own a Model 55 in deluxe configuration, serial #5, for about 30 years and often wish I had kept it. But, I was the lucky caretaker for a long time and I know it is being enjoyed and meticulously cared for by the new owner.
