Hello All,
New to the forum… I have had 94 shooters all my life, but a year ago a NIB limited edition 1 commerative caught my eye so I bought it. I have since looked and picked up a couple of other 94 commeratives – and so the very humble collection begins.
My question – what is the best source to validate production levels of these commeratives? when looking at the commeratives list on WACA, there seems to be some discrepencies at to what I have seen in the past. i.e. number of units produced on the limited edition I vs II – I says 15K and the II says 1500. I have read other places that both were 1500. Please know that I am not trying to step on any toes, but would like some newbie guidance on how best to begin putting a 94 collection together with the best information possible
Appreciate the conversation
BV
If you want to collect Winchesters, stay away from anything post 1963. Even better, avoid anything post 1930, as by then the company was no longer the original one. That having been said, people collect the oddest things and there is nothing wrong with collecting commemoratives of any kind, if that’s where your interest lie.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
I only have one, a John Wayne comm NIB still with tags and complete literature and tie on the lever as well as the optional wall plaque and scabbard and 2 boxes of the matching commemorative ammo. I occasionally see a few commemorative collectors at the gun shows, but generally they only draw value if they are complete and as new. Otherwise the value falls considerably. Also among commemoratives there are the “official” Winchester commemoratives and then quite a few “aftermarket” commemoratives that are of lesser value and generally not considered by collectors.
I think there’s a lot more interest in the “real deal” Winchesters, as Wincacher noted. I wouldn’t have been interested in the one I have myself were it not for the completeness and the fact that I paid a run-of-the-mill modern used ’94 type price from a neighbor who was just cleaning out the closet.
I’ve seen the wall mount and scabbard go for as much as the rifle at auction.
Steve
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
November 7, 2015
BATFE’s Curios or Relics list gives the serial number ranges of some commemoratives. A true collector of commemoratives would not like me much; I think their workmanship and materials are quite often better than contemporary standard rifles and occasionally cost less. I don’t have any at the moment but the one I did have was an excellent shooter.
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