Jeremy P said

Anthony said
With several very good comments posted, let's not get too far away from, the OP'S question on his desire to hunt with a commemorative vs collecting them.
 
Tony 
  

Careful Tony, or you'll end up with a forum moderator's position!
  

HAHA!

I'm no moderator! We are lucky with the good ones we have! Just a friendly member enjoying the comments!

Tony

mrcvs said
The description even states the following:
”…professionally finished replacement sideplates…”
This is the kind of stuff you want to AVOID!
  

We're in agreement once again!

Tony

MidwestCrisis said

Buck94 said

Henry Mero said
Most Winchester Commemoratives have the most value , #1- in the original pristine box and sleeve, "unopened" , from there , #2- opened unfired pristine no marks/corrosion with a nice box and paperwork, then #3-  some handling wear and a well worn box. Once they've been fired, other than the factory, it changes the whole ball game as far as collectability and value, (to a serious Commemorative collector). Then there are a lot of extenuating factors involved, eg; which Commemorative We are speaking of. I would be willing to bet none of the 10 only R.C.M.P. presentation guns have been fired because of the value, now $30,000-$40,000.00 or more, but all 32 of the R.C.M.P. #MPX#'rd guns have been fired and still bring a huge price. A regular R.C.M.P. , in the box, in average condition brings about $2500+/- unfired and about $1200+/-, used, a big difference. A complete pridtine , Chief Crazy Horse, with matching stamps,  knife, etc. would bring a very substantial $ value, $3500 - $4000, while the one being "used is a $1200 -$1500 gun. So 'ya , large difference. Pretty much the same can be said for the rest of the "normal" commemoratives, that is to say once they've been fired and the odd little mar, they go to about 1/2 the value of the unfired , unmarred gun.  My thoughts and opinions only.
  

Zebulon said
Henry, "only" your opinion on the matter of Winchester commemoratives is going to get printed out and pinned on my office wall. Anyone interested in the genre would be wise to do the same. 
  

Respectfully, this Commemorative collector strongly disagrees and believe the facts back me up. Every day Commemoratives sell on GB and GI within a stones throw of each other with the difference in price being the same as it is for every Winchester. The closer it is to original condition the higher the price. I have seen plenty of shooter grade Winchesters without box and papers sell for 70 to 90% of a NOS depending on its condition. I would offer a Wells Fargo Commemorative that has been fired but is in otherwise excellent condition would NEVER sell for 50% of a NOS. That is folly and again the everyday sales prove my point over and over. Is it possible some Collectors will turn their nose up at them. Certainly, but not most and the sales on GB prove my point. I am a very serious Commemorative collector and speaking for myself and every Commemorative collector I know (except Henry) we value the exact same thing every Winchester collector does and that is simply the Condition of the rifle. Excluding things like provenance, the better the condition, the higher the value - no more and no less! I adamantly contest and resent the notion Commemorative collectors are snooty and would devalue a rifle 50% simply because it has been shot. Let’s not forget, every Winchester including the Commemoratives were in fact test fired by Winchester before they were shipped.  I admire Henry, his many contributions to this Forum as well as his past and present collection but respectfully, the facts lead to a different conclusion than the one he has drawn here. I offer this lovingly Bill, but you need to move that print out from your office wall to the bathroom wall 😀
  

Buck, with all due respect, you’re agreeing with Henry in this post.  You’re just looking from a glass half full vs Henry’s glass half empty perspective.  Just my opinion on what I’m reading.  Context is always misunderstood in text.  I love reading good arguments.  
  

You got me and I appreciate your analogy! I realize you are correct, we are in agreement all Winchesters lose value based upon condition. The disagreement is to what extent and I stand firm it ain’t 50% just because one is fired. 

I'd never post a photo of myself unless I was wearing a mask...

You rifle was made in early 1950, so it's a Type III-1 oval tang gun.  Which is good, since it makes finding a stock much easier.  It should not be too difficult to find a low comb take-off stock with added pad for a decent price, and as long as it wasn't cut too short you should be good to go.  I think there were couple of them on a table at Cody...

Bishop was a popular maker of semi-finished and finished/drop-in stocks back in the day.  I never did care much for their Monte Carlo stocks, but a lot of people in the 1950s wanted the MC to replace the low comb if they were mounting a scope.

Good Luck!!!

Lou

Anthony said
With several very good comments posted, let's not get too far away from, the OP'S question on his desire to hunt with a commemorative vs collecting them.
 
Tony 
  

Careful Tony, or you'll end up with a forum moderator's position!

Anthony said

Chuck,
Good point, "To never say Never", when it comes to Winchesters, and even the fore running Henry rifles. 
I had a chance to look in Les Quick's Henry book, and on page #146, he states that "it is believed to be something in excess of 600 rifles", and normally found between serial numbers 7000-9000. Including both martially marked on the left side of the wrist of the stock.
I had to look this up and either verify or correct my earlier assumption.
I don't see anything about the, "&", stamp or mark, as he does call out the inspector marks on pages #132- #134. With the "W", "H", in the middle of the lower tang, and even a small center punch dot, " . ", located behind the lower rear receiver tang screw.
The rear sight that is on the OP, rifle is shown on page #122 , as example "D", as the 900 range sight, (which was common for the last four of the five known Henry rifle rear sights), with the retaining screw at the top of the leaf. There are no serial number ranges for the five Henry rifle sights listed.
Tony 
  

I also went through Les' book last night.  I have another book and when I get time I will look through it.  But Les' book is the best.  The marks on the later rifles are often worn away and most people don't even know to look for them. 

”…professionally finished replacement sideplates…”

This is the kind of stuff you want to AVOID!

Thank you to everyone here. This body of expertise is SO helpful!

Tony 

Chuck said

Anthony said

Chuck said
This Henry is not in the correct serial number range for a later military rifle.  Take a picture of the cleaning rod.  It is really hard to tell the difference of an original metal rod and the repos so I wouldn't worry about it.  
  

Chuck,
I am pretty sure serial numbers between  7000-9000, are "Type ll martial" Henry Rifles. I have one so marked a few hundred numbers under the one mentioned. These were Mfg. in 1864, and 1865.
Tony
  

That proves never say never.  Does it have the later stamp or the earlier stamps?
  

Chuck,

Good point, "To never say Never", when it comes to Winchesters, and even the fore running Henry rifles. 

I had a chance to look in Les Quick's Henry book, and on page #146, he states that "it is believed to be something in excess of 600 rifles", and normally found between serial numbers 7000-9000. Including both martially marked on the left side of the wrist of the stock.

I had to look this up and either verify or correct my earlier assumption.

I don't see anything about the, "&", stamp or mark, as he does call out the inspector marks on pages #132- #134. With the "W", "H", in the middle of the lower tang, and even a small center punch dot, " . ", located behind the lower rear receiver tang screw.

The rear sight that is on the OP, rifle is shown on page #122 , as example "D", as the 900 range sight, (which was common for the last four of the five known Henry rifle rear sights), with the retaining screw at the top of the leaf. There are no serial number ranges for the five Henry rifle sights listed.

Tony 

Buck94 said

Henry Mero said
Most Winchester Commemoratives have the most value , #1- in the original pristine box and sleeve, "unopened" , from there , #2- opened unfired pristine no marks/corrosion with a nice box and paperwork, then #3-  some handling wear and a well worn box. Once they've been fired, other than the factory, it changes the whole ball game as far as collectability and value, (to a serious Commemorative collector). Then there are a lot of extenuating factors involved, eg; which Commemorative We are speaking of. I would be willing to bet none of the 10 only R.C.M.P. presentation guns have been fired because of the value, now $30,000-$40,000.00 or more, but all 32 of the R.C.M.P. #MPX#'rd guns have been fired and still bring a huge price. A regular R.C.M.P. , in the box, in average condition brings about $2500+/- unfired and about $1200+/-, used, a big difference. A complete pridtine , Chief Crazy Horse, with matching stamps,  knife, etc. would bring a very substantial $ value, $3500 - $4000, while the one being "used is a $1200 -$1500 gun. So 'ya , large difference. Pretty much the same can be said for the rest of the "normal" commemoratives, that is to say once they've been fired and the odd little mar, they go to about 1/2 the value of the unfired , unmarred gun.  My thoughts and opinions only.
  

Zebulon said
Henry, "only" your opinion on the matter of Winchester commemoratives is going to get printed out and pinned on my office wall. Anyone interested in the genre would be wise to do the same. 
  

Respectfully, this Commemorative collector strongly disagrees and believe the facts back me up. Every day Commemoratives sell on GB and GI within a stones throw of each other with the difference in price being the same as it is for every Winchester. The closer it is to original condition the higher the price. I have seen plenty of shooter grade Winchesters without box and papers sell for 70 to 90% of a NOS depending on its condition. I would offer a Wells Fargo Commemorative that has been fired but is in otherwise excellent condition would NEVER sell for 50% of a NOS. That is folly and again the everyday sales prove my point over and over. Is it possible some Collectors will turn their nose up at them. Certainly, but not most and the sales on GB prove my point. I am a very serious Commemorative collector and speaking for myself and every Commemorative collector I know (except Henry) we value the exact same thing every Winchester collector does and that is simply the Condition of the rifle. Excluding things like provenance, the better the condition, the higher the value - no more and no less! I adamantly contest and resent the notion Commemorative collectors are snooty and would devalue a rifle 50% simply because it has been shot. Let’s not forget, every Winchester including the Commemoratives were in fact test fired by Winchester before they were shipped.  I admire Henry, his many contributions to this Forum as well as his past and present collection but respectfully, the facts lead to a different conclusion than the one he has drawn here. I offer this lovingly Bill, but you need to move that print out from your office wall to the bathroom wall 😀
  

Buck, with all due respect, you’re agreeing with Henry in this post.  You’re just looking from a glass half full vs Henry’s glass half empty perspective.  Just my opinion on what I’m reading.  Context is always misunderstood in text.  I love reading good arguments.  

marty