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I have been buying a lot of Winchester lever guns from a 250 gun collection from an estate. Most are pretty easy to put a value on. I looked at another one today. 1895 made 1915. .405. Takedown. 24″ round barrel. VG bore, showing some pitting. Standard non pistol grip stock that has checkering on the pistol grip and fore end which I presume are added. Small 1/2″ compass inlaid in stock. 85% barrel blue, 25% receiver blue. Stock has not been refinished, steel buttplate. Stock has the usual hunting scratches and bumps, but not chipped or cracked anywhere. Not real pretty, just looks like a hunting gun. The BB comes out at $4500, but they know that is too high. I believe way too high. Would $3K be about right? No pictures available, but it looks just like my description.
Sounds like you are in the right ballpark, $2500-$3000 would be a fair price. Condition is not great, but would make an excellent shooter. Takedown .405’s are not easy to find. Mine is an early 1920’s rifle.
Yours looks great. This one has the black piece inlaid in the fore end, and has factory checkering, the style I see on all deluxes, but it has been recut and not real well. Are all factory checkered guns deluxes, the wood on this one does not have particularly fancy grain. I don’t think factory letters are available in the 81,000 range. The gun also has factory sling swivel eyes, front one on the barrel.
The Blue Book calculation assumes there are no alterations such as a compass in the stock or added checkering. These modifications make a large difference and typically take the piece out of collector item status. I think $2500 to $3000 is about right (I’m factoring in the takedown feature). Sounds like a fun gun to take a trip in the woods with.
It is checkered in this exact pattern, although partially recut. The wood is not fancy like this, more plain dark walnut. Does the factory checkering make it a deluxe? http://www.hallowellco.com/winchester_____model_1895_deluxe.htm
wolfbait said
It is checkered in this exact pattern, although partially recut. The wood is not fancy like this, more plain dark walnut. Does the factory checkering make it a deluxe? http://www.hallowellco.com/winchester_____model_1895_deluxe.htm
I would view recut checkering significantly differently than, “added” checkering. Personally, I would not say a rifle with plain wood is a, “deluxe” even if checkering is present. But if this rifle was shipped with checking, I feel much more comfortable with a $3000 valuation.
Seems to me, sometimes the term, “semi-deluxe” is applied to those rifles with checkered plain wood. I believe this is a term coined by collectors vs. a term Winchester used.
steve004 said
Seems to me, sometimes the term, “semi-deluxe” is applied to those rifles with checkered plain wood. I believe this is a term coined by collectors vs. a term Winchester used.
That is correct.
“Semi-deluxe” and “deluxe” are collector terms only. “Semi-deluxe” is usually applied to a lever-action that has a pistol grip stock, but with plain walnut that may or may not be checkered (usually I-pattern).
“Deluxe” is the term used by most collectors for a pistol gripped gun with at least 2X (or better) H-pattern checkered stocks. Winchester referred to them as a “Fancy” Sporting Rifle, or in later years, a “Special” Sporting Rifle (e.g. Model 65, 71, and 43).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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