Hello,

I ran across a beautiful factory original Win 61 made in 1936 with an octagon barrel, mint bore, no holes drilled for a scope and the gun looks like it’s had less than 200rds through it.

The bad is, someone lightly scraped their name on the side of the wood stock and on the bottom of the forend.  It’s not deep, it can be sanded down without changing the shape more than  1/16″, but you lose the original varnish. 

The metal is beautiful with no blue wear, but there is quite a bit of rust along the edges of the barrel and on the bottom edges of the receiver that’s pitted the metal.  I’m in a quandry because I love the 61, I’ve got 15-20 of them that I’ve collected over the last 40 years, but I’m trying to figure out a value.

The seller wants $1000, he seems to think n its worth $2000+ but the rust knocks it down.   I’d say the rust and pitting are on 10-15% of the gun, the worst being along the right side of the receiver.

So I ask you, the Winchester sages, what do you think ?  Thanks for your help.