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

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.  

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

steve004 said
I wonder if this would be the right swivel nose cap.  Probably not as it wouldn't match the rear swivel.  I know this fits a Model 53, so probably would fit a Model 65.
  

No, it would not be for a Model 65 Special

This is the correct sling base...

Bert

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?