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Greetings,
I am thinking about starting in Winchesters, and am looking for any advice some of you long time collectors have. I am not new when it comes to old firearms, as I have been collecting single shot blackpowder rifles and military Mausers for awhile now.
After doing some preliminary research, I would like to start with an 1873 or 1892. Although I follow the philosophy of buying the best rifle I can afford, I would like to find one that is not mint or super collectable/rare, more of a shooter grade rifle, but one that holds some degree of value and collectability. I do intend to shoot it. What would be a decent price range for such a rifle? From what I can pull from online dealers, $1200-1600? Correct me if I am way off.
Any responses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
G’day there Samuel990.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Winchesters. Lets just start by saying it is all downhill from here 😉
I am not one of the long time collectors on here. I am 33 and have been collecting Winchesters for 16 years now. There are many more experienced collectors here that will give great advice and will be happy to help.
I started with one old 1894 from a well known collector and the Winchester book by Madis. I now have a few more old ones and a bunch more books.
I would suggest getting a copy of the red book of Winchester values by Bert Hartman and Larry Shennum.
Also attend gunshows and auctions and handle as many as you can. Sounds like you already are into rifles so it’s not like you’re a total newbie to it all. Maybe join a collectors association like WACA and meet some fellow collectors through it.
Buy what you like and see if you can narrow down your choices, ie rifles or carbines, half mag vs full mag oct barrel vs round barrel, special features, cals ect…
If you have a Winchester in mind, post pics here and ask questions. You will see lots of average brown guns out there. Buy original: no refinished blue or wood that has been rounded and does not fit well and no ‘bubba’ jobs.
Read this https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-rifles/Tips+on+Buying+an+old+Winchester/
I would say your figure of 1200-1600 is realistic for a shooter grade gun. If you want one with lots of blue that is an antique (pre 1898) it will be much higher than that. Down here shooter grade 92’s can be found from $500 up, 73’s a little higher.
Good luck with your search and remember not to rush out and buy the first you see, there are plenty out there!
Chris
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
Samuel990, I would suggest you buy a honest gun, not a composite pieced together by Bubba. You can buy a 38/40 cheaper than a 44/40 and have just as much fun shooting it, a no finish 1873 can be bought in your budget or a 1892 with a little finish. If money is tight, round barrel or smaller caliber will be cheaper. If you go the Bubba route you are more likely to own a problem that needs correcting and take a hit when you sell. These are old guns and you can still be proud of a no finish gun. They look good above the fire place and the bullet hits the target. T/R
November 7, 2015
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Welcome to the affliction, sounds like you’re off to a great start and getting good advice above. All I can add is invest in some good reference books to help decide what you like and how to tell the original guns from all the others. It’s possible to spend hundreds of dollars on a modest reference library but almost every book I’ve bought has been a good investment. I think it’s a buyers’ market now in the 70-80% guns and the 80% guns are better investments. The high condition and deluxe guns are still apparently holding their values well but they don’t make good shooters. Rule of thumb I think an 80% gun in original (and possibly unusual) configuration would make a pretty good investment/shooter.
Have fun, read all you can, ask questions.
Mike
In addition to what Mike said, try to go to a Collector gun show and ask who else from this Forum may be there to help you out. My next show is in May in Denver.
These along with the WACA magazine, and the archive copies you can access here as a member,can make for hours and hours of reading and learning.stay in your knowledge level and your budget. I am by no means anywhere as knowledgeable as the majority of the people on here, but I have learned quickly that if it’s to good to be true it probably is and if you don’t know it’s ok to say you don’t know- even the most experienced collectors had to learn.and when you learn something is wrong with a particular gun and your certain of it you don’t need to point it out, you can simply walk away.
Hello and welcome to crazy. My best suggestion to you is to find someone either close by or on line that is very knowledgeable on old Winchesters and is willing to help you obtain correct information. That’s what I did when I started and it was a huge help to me. I would pick out guns from on-line auctions like Gun Broker, forward them to my mentor, and then we would have a phone chat and he would fill me in with problems etc on each one. Huge help and a great leap forward in the learning curve. You have to get someone who collects and knows his stuff. The local gun dealer and most sellers at gun shows and on-line are NOT your answer. These people think they know it all, but know just about nothing. Best of luck to you. Peter
Thanks so much for all the quick replies. I am excited to get into it. Trust me, I am used to steep learning curves when it comes to firearms (take a look at all the counterfeit k98’s out there!) I will be getting some reference books. Just so I can put it into writing, octagon or round barrels are fine, but I 100% like the full length magazine vs. the button ones.
I frequently visit gunshow, but rarely see anything worth my attention. The best show in my area, the Richland County Civil War Show, is great, but I will be missing it this year. Are there any other good collector shows within the Ohio area? And any suggestions on good websites that sell fairly priced guns?
Feel free to chime in!
Thanks,
Sam
Welcome Samuel, Every year in September, WACA has our Midwestern Show in Wilmington Ohio. This year it’s September 14, and 15 and is sponsored by OGCA. It’s exclusively for WACA, and OGCA members and their guests. It’s usually a very good show.
Al
tionesta1 said
Welcome Samuel, Every year in September, WACA has our Midwestern Show in Wilmington Ohio. This year it’s September 14, and 15 and is sponsored by OGCA. It’s exclusively for WACA, and OGCA members and their guests. It’s usually a very good show.Al
Sounds great, I will definitely have to join up!
Hopefully you have an understanding wife that will not kill you for the amount of money you about to be spending!
Advice? Buy the very best condition you can afford. Better to have a few really great condition guns than several in poor condition. Avoid anything refinished. It’s a buyer’s market. Remind yourself of this. Lots of old timers starting to sell and few younger folks to fill their shoes.
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