Commemorative Winchesters, shoot them or not?|Page 2|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

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.

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 😀