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March 20, 2009
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Did anyone miss this little gem at the last RIA? WOW!! $188,000 for a Model 61 .22 rifle!! https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/3062/engraved-and-gold-inlaid-winchester-model-61-slide-action-rifle
Of course it was not all that bad since it sold for $46,000 back in 2016 at RIA. https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/69/1712/winchester-model-61-slide-action-rifle-with-octagon-barrel
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
April 15, 2005
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Insanity at its peak. Sure, it is a “one-of-a-kind” Model 61 rifle, but is it truly worth $188K ??
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 20, 2009
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Bert H. said
Insanity at its peak. Sure, it is a “one-of-a-kind” Model 61 rifle, but is it truly worth $188K ??
Bert
Since it is a one of a kind then one must ask what is the Mona Lisa really worth?? There is only one. And it is worth what people are willing to pay at any one time. Are Model 1873’s One of a Thousand REALLY worth 2, 3, or more times that much??
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
November 7, 2015
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twobit said
Bert H. said
Insanity at its peak. Sure, it is a “one-of-a-kind” Model 61 rifle, but is it truly worth $188K ??
Bert
Since it is a one of a kind then one must ask what is the Mona Lisa really worth?? There is only one. And it is worth what people are willing to pay at any one time. Are Model 1873’s One of a Thousand REALLY worth 2, 3, or more times that much??
Michael
Hard to believe but someone apparently thought so and at least one person agreed it was worth nearly that much. With RIA as the bid price increases the bid increments do as well at certain points. Once a gun gets into six figures things happen pretty fast, IIRC the increment is $5000. I’d dare say with Winchester’s willingness to accommodate customers there are likely dozens of “One of a Kind” guns are out there if one cares to do the research. Morphy sold a straight stock 61 for me awhile back for what seemed a silly price but it was like new and I’ve only heard of maybe two others like it. I suppose exclusivity means a lot to some folks!
Mike
July 3, 2020
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re: deluxe 61… I can accept the gold dog & squirrel… but a deer & ram (head out of proportion to its body) just don’t make sense… now I don’t feel so bad about putting my money in that G&H 52 and custom stocked 52…. I have been having a little spending remorse, then I look at them again and realize it’s ok.
December 21, 2006
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I currently have, and have had several 1 of a kind 1894’s and other models over the years and would be peein’ Myself happy if I got any where near that kind of money for any of them. I got a 1851 cased, presentation Colt at Miller and Miller auctions coming up in a couple weeks, that I’d be happy to get a fraction of $188,000.00 for. Maybe I’m just dealin’ with the wrong people.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
August 14, 2021
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Anybody that pays that kind of money for a model 61 needs his head examined sorry.
May 23, 2009
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I do wonder if there was actually three guys in the room that had to have it.
I mean if there was just the two of us, I’ll gladly take joint custody of it and let you hold it for 182 & 1/2 days out of the year at your house. I’ll gladly save us both a lot of money. I mean heck I think we could afford driving across country twice a year to switch hands, even with these fuel prices and still come out quite a bit ahead.
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
November 7, 2015
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Maverick-
I’d be willing to bet neither bidder was in the room, it was probably between two phone or online bidders.
Mike
November 19, 2006
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I know the bidding doesn’t make sense to most of us here. However we don’t know the personal situation of the bidders involved. This doesn’t describe me, but many people have done extremely well in the stock market. Windfalls of excess cash can be spent more easily than hard-earned dollars. At least I would think that would be the case.
We’ve also seen examples where it’s not as much about the rifle as it is about egos. For some (e.g. those for whom the amount of cash involved has an insignificant impact on their bottom line) being the triumphant, “winner” is worth it. And not only do they end up with the status of, “winner” but the auction house mails them a very nice token to remember their win. 
November 7, 2015
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Good points, Steve. There are folks with huge piles of discretionary funds and some have egos to match. They benefit some of our auction houses and the sellers lucky enough to wander by when the goose lays a golden egg. It’s a bit like a Monty Python movie for me, I don’t understand much of it but it’s often entertaining.
Mike
September 22, 2011
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TXGunNut said
Maverick-
I’d be willing to bet neither bidder was in the room, it was probably between two phone or online bidders.
Mike
Just curious, why would that matter?
September 19, 2014
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Nothing scientific, but seems to me when I attended RIA auctions at their original location, the crazy bidding happened over the phones. Tim
November 19, 2006
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tim tomlinson said
Nothing scientific, but seems to me when I attended RIA auctions at their original location, the crazy bidding happened over the phones. Tim
I think there’s a lot of public settings where the rich/elite won’t show up in-person. And, they may well not be the ones who are doing the actual bidding on the phone.
September 22, 2011
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steve004 said
tim tomlinson said
Nothing scientific, but seems to me when I attended RIA auctions at their original location, the crazy bidding happened over the phones. Tim
I think there’s a lot of public settings where the rich/elite won’t show up in-person. And, they may well not be the ones who are doing the actual bidding on the phone.
I would think the rich/elite might send someone on their behalf to bid in person but on the phone if I were rich/elite, I would want to do the bidding myself.
By the way, that was stupid money for this Model 61, no 61 is worth that kind of money.
January 20, 2023
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Agree with Ian. When he wakes up and realizes what he’s done, the buyer may well gnaw his wallet hand off at the wrist.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 5, 2014
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FWIW… Which is nothing… 
I don’t think the relevant question is whether any Model 61 is worth that kind of money, but whether any documented Alden George Ulrich engraved and gold inlaid Winchester is worth that much? Probably not… But a couple guys apparently thought so…
One thing I noticed while at CFM in July is that they DID NOT have a George Ulrich engraved WINCHESTER in the gallery where they display Presidential guns and guns engraved by the “famous” factory engravers. At least none on public display… The did have a George Ulrich engraved gun (I honestly don’t remember if it was a Marlin or a hand gun), but not a WINCHESTER. Glaring omission for the guy who was Winchester’s chief factory engraver from 1925-1949…
I’d bet Danny Michael would not turn his nose up at that rifle if someone offered to donate it, even though it is “only” a Model 61… 
Just my take…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 19, 2006
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On the topic of how it’s all relative, I read this morning that Keith Urban spent $320,000 on Cocaine on a two-day binge. I believe he was sharing with friends and this was during his wilder days. The money spent on this engraved M61 doesn’t seem as insane to me.
November 7, 2015
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mrcvs said
TXGunNut said
Maverick-
I’d be willing to bet neither bidder was in the room, it was probably between two phone or online bidders.
Mike
Just curious, why would that matter?
Ian-
I was responding to Maverick, and I think it’s more fun when the bidders are present. Just left an auction where some pretty serious money (but NOT $188,000!) changed hands and it was pretty exciting. Both bars did a lively business and every winning bidder got a free drink ticket. Can’t have that kind of fun with phone or online bidders!
Mike
September 22, 2011
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I was present at this auction, these are the type of auctions I like to watch…
Pre auction estimate $1,000 to $1,500. Final price including buyer’s premium: $329,400.
Of course, if I’m bidding, I like it when something I’m interested in struggles to meet the opening bid.
By the way, here’s my latest auction purchase, a coffee mill made in Meriden, Connecticut by the very same Charles Parker of Parker shotguns.
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