Tony

The difference is in the aesthetic and the packaging.

I own a very low serial number 94 Centennial ‘66 commemorative rifle in 30 WCF, the heavy octagonal barrel makes it very accurate, although it has been many years since I last used it.

My reply to the shooting questions would be,  do not shoot it if the piece is unfired, it will lose collectability value. BUT if the piece has already been used, absolutely yes, they are post/64 Winchester 94s, in the good and in the bad … in my opinion mostly good.

As far as shooting, buy whatever caliber has the best ammunition availability in your area. sounds like you want a gun to shoot.  On the YouTube, I’ve seen reviews of commemorative Winchesters that shot great and some that had terrible bores from the factory.  I’m sure Zeb will be along to inform you on the merits of the miroukoo rifles. 

I don’t know what the market is like in Sweden but you may look for a pre-64 94 30-30 shooter grade.  

-Adam

Most Collectors here on the WACA Forum like the Pre-1964 Winchester rifles and many with history. Theirs many different levels and kinds of Winchester Collectors.

One pretty well known fact is the Quality of the Pre-64 Winchester Manufacturing, had changed after 1964, prompting many of us to pursue the earlier examples. It could be an assumption of these facts, that may be confusing with the commemorative rifles, that Winchester started production in 1964 with the 1964 Wyoming Diamond Jubilee 94 carbine. So a lesser quality rifle could be possibly based on these facts! IMHO!

That being said, as times change and things in life change, you will find some that collect and like the Winchester commemoratives. As far as the "experts ", and "the several articles", that you refer to, and what their saying, maybe you can enlighten us on these articles, and post some links here. We have to be careful with some of the information, as it can be either wrong or an opinion, and not a fact from a bona fide gunsmith who works on Winchesters and has done the comparison at the bench and at the range! IMHO!

Many collectors of the Winchester commemorative rifles like the NIB, UN-fired condition, and barter/trade and sell these often, on Guns International, Gun Broker, and in Auctions. You're assumption that the ones that you found nearby at different locations, could be from one person or not. No matter as things are a little different over in Switzerland where you're at, than here in the USA!

It's very possible to buy a Winchester Pre-64/post war rifle, to hunt with, in the .30 WCF/30-30 Caliber, and it doesn't have to be a commemorative rifle. Being where you're at, I'm suspecting those might be hard to come by, explaining more of you're situation or dilemma.

Many of the knowledgeable collectors are currently heading to the WACA Cody, Wyoming show that is held annually and might no respond right away to this. One in particular I'm sure can add to this, Henry Mero, who is very knowledgeable on the commemorative rifles. Be patient and some more responses might come in.

Tony

I am new to this forum, so let me give you a brief intro.

I am 64 yrs old, living in Sweden.  I have always been a fan of lever-action rifles, and got really hooked when shooting a M94, chambered in 30WCF, when I was in AZ in the 90´s

The gun laws here in Sweden are quite different than in the US.  For instance, as a hunter, you were only allowed to have 4 guns without having to motivate the purpose.  It was possible to extend it to 6 guns, if you could give the police a good motivation why you need so many.

And you need to store them in a security graded gun cabinet.  So no nice collector guns hanging on the wall.

This of course meant that I had to choose wisely what guns to have, depending on what game I was hunting.

But from June 1st. we are allowed to have 10 guns, without having to motivate why we want them.  So this has now opened up the possibility for me to add a Winchester 94 to my cabinet.

And now to my question.

I have found several Commemorative Winchesters.  They are all new and have never been fired.  Those I have found are:

Brave Land and Bold Men, 30-30 from 1970
Apache, 30-30 from 1974
Klondike, 30-30 from 1975
Little Big Horn, 44-40 from 1976
Sioux, 30-30 from 1976
Cheyenne, 44-40 from 1977
Bat Masterson, 30-30 from 1979

Even though they are in 3 different stores, spread around Sweden, I assume they all come from the same collection.

So how is the quality of the guns above?  Several articles (and experts) state that they are of a less quality than an ordinary M94 from the same era, since they were supposed to hang on a wall in a timber lodge somewhere in Wyoming, Vermont or Maine.

Is this true, or are they really a stock gun from the beginning, that just got better wood and some nickel or gold plating.

I would like to buy one of the ones chambered in 30WCF and use it for hunting.  But if it is just a bling-bling gun to have on the wall, I have no use for it.

So what do you think??

Regards

Georg

A refreshing change from several boxes sent to me in the past by strangers, which, when opened, gave off the "powerful odor of mendacity." 

antler1 said

Jeremy P said
Yes, to be clearer, $3500 for a really nice non-deluxe (special) model!
Pat, you'll sell me a deluxe for 3500 this weekend, won't you?
  

I was offering to buy not sell!! I do have a very nice model 65 25-20 w/bolt peep that will be on the table. Stop by.
  

I will indeed stop by! I think mine in .25-20 is a refinish, although a nice one. See you there!

Jeremy P said

antler1 said

Jeremy P said

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).
  

If you find a high condition special model 65 in 218 bee for $3500.00 please pm me!
  

Yes, to be clearer, $3500 for a really nice non-deluxe (special) model!
Pat, you'll sell me a deluxe for 3500 this weekend, won't you?
  

I was offering to buy not sell!! I do have a very nice model 65 25-20 w/bolt peep that will be on the table. Stop by.

antler1 said

Jeremy P said

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).
  

If you find a high condition special model 65 in 218 bee for $3500.00 please pm me!
  

Yes, to be clearer, $3500 for a really nice non-deluxe (special) model!

Pat, you'll sell me a deluxe for 3500 this weekend, won't you?

Jeremy P said

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).
  

If you find a high condition special model 65 in 218 bee for $3500.00 please pm me!

helidriver72 said
Well it went for $3500, I guess a couple people thought it was close to right. If it was no doubts right in every way would you guys say it would be more like $5k plus?
  

No, $3500 is right about where they've gone for a few years now (when original/correct).

steve004 said

Bert H. said

Zebulon said
Steve,  The big difference (to me) is that nosecap is fitted with a non-detachable swivel, whereas the 71 and 64 - and I assume the 65, if special ordered, were furnished with Super Grade detachable swivels. 
Bert,  so there was never a catalogued "Special" style of the M65. No wonder I wasn't sure what to call one fitted up like a Deer Rifle. 
Both:  the nose cap illustrated by Steve appears to have a swivel base welded or sweated on.  
The 71 and 64 nose caps with swivel bases (at least the two in my possession) seem to be of a single piece, as if forged or machined that way. Is that just because of careful filing and finishing or are at least some made with integral bases?
  

Correct... Winchester never officially cataloged a Model 65 "Special" but that is how they labeled the end label of the cardboard box.  
The Model 64 and Model 71 nose caps were dovetailed for the SG swivel base.
Bert
  

What kind of swiveled nose cap for a M53?  This one fits on a M53 perfectly.  
  

I have not ever encountered or documented a Model 53 fitted with sling swivels.  A very small number of them were equipped with sling eyes.  The nose cap you have was most likely made for a Model 1892.

Bert