Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Rifles

rogertherelic on Model 71 Coming Up

Sat, 16 May 2026 01:34:02 +0000

I have only actual firsthand knowledge of the Winchester sling that came with my dad's Model 100 Winchester. I was with him in 1961 when he purchased it. It did have the diamond shaped staples. All information I have acquried since then is from outside sourses and that may or not be correct. More than once I have received incorrect information that I accepted as truth. I was just misinformed, maybe not intentially, but misinformed by someone who believed what they were telling me at that time was true. I assumned, since the keepers were stapled with the diamond shaped staples, it was correct. It may not be original to the rifle, I may have misspoken, as I have no positive way to prove that it is original. I will try to be more careful in the future with my descriptions. Thanks for the information you provided. I am still learning and at the age where my remembering is sometimes gets confused. RDB

stavok on Would you buy this 1866 Yellowboy?

Sat, 16 May 2026 00:37:39 +0000

Hope we weren't bidding against each other! Don't get me started on The Shootist. I made a special trip there to view the guns before the auction. I had prior agreement from the auction company and from an employee to see the guns. I get there and the owner James rudely informs me; "it aint gonna happen". Said he didn't care I drove 100 miles and that I had made prior arrangements and seemed angry about the whole deal like he wasn't happy to charge $120 each to transfer 267 guns. I emailed them this morning and had to call on the phone to beg an email reply confirming they are insisting on background check and 3 day wait for ANTIQUE GUNS! I noticed more than 3/4 of the lots were unsold and despite bids exceeding the low estimate they did not hit the reserve. Who puts a low estimate way below the reserve price?

Buck1967 on Would you buy this 1866 Yellowboy?

Sat, 16 May 2026 00:22:29 +0000

stavok said
Hi,
I won't bore you with the sordid details, but I've had a bad experience before with this FFL handling auctions. Against my better judgement, I won two antique winchester lots and now the FFL is wanting background check, 3 day waiting period, etc... I was already feeling like I overbid on these guns and now I'm wondering if it is worth the hassle.
Would you consider buying this gun given the limited pictures, $3000 price plus expenses, and FFL hassles? Please pick apart what you see and all comments are appreciated. TIA
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/229881662_winchester-model-1866-lever-action-rifle-with-bayonet-englewood-co

The 66’s aren’t my specialty so I’ll let others weigh in but the price is fair assuming nothing is fake on them. I bought 8 rifles last night in that auction and would have bought more but those FFL fees are outrageous. Congrats if you spoke to the FFL today as I could never even get them to answer the phone. If they are shipping to another FFL the background check is BS on top of an already insane $85 transfer fee.

stavok on What do you think of this "Legion of Frontiersmen" LOF 1876 Winchester? Would you buy it?

Sat, 16 May 2026 00:15:45 +0000

Here's the few pictures available.

Condition

Visible wear and oxidation throughout, finish largely worn, wood with scratches and handling marks, mechanical function untested, bore condition unknown.

Description

Winchester Model 1876 lever action rifle chambered in .45-75 WCF, serial number 45417, featuring Round barrel, full-length tubular magazine, and side loading gate, with “Model 1876” marked on the tang and “45-75” marked on the carrier block, barrel marked “Winchester’s Repeating Arms, New Haven, CT, King’s Improvement Patented March 29, 1866, October 16, 1860,” consistent with 1880s production, wood stock displaying attractive grain with handling wear, metal surfaces showing patina and oxidation, overall a classic large-frame Winchester rifle representative of the American frontier era.

stavok on Would you buy this 1866 Yellowboy?

Sat, 16 May 2026 00:11:40 +0000

Here's the pictures. Description is worthless. Pictures are sparse.

Condition

visible patina, finish wear, and surface marks throughout; bayonet shows wear consistent with age; mechanically untested

1873man on Would you buy this 1866 Yellowboy?

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:58:08 +0000

Can't see any details on the gun without signing up. The issue I see is its a musket.

Bob

Zebulon on Model 71 Coming Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:56:41 +0000

I've just read the genuine sling furnished with deluxe versions of the models 70, 71, 64, and 52 Sporting was catalogued as the #3260 "carrying strap" although it was a 2 piece leather shooting sling, essentially a narrow (1 inch) version of the 1907 military sling. The keeper loops were fastened together with distinctive blue steel diamond shaped staples, instead of other means. The 3260 sling was entirely without identifying marks.

Roger's sling keepers are fastened with just such blue diamond-shaped staples. However, the hardware should be brass and the one in question appears to be a white plated metal. There should be a single, parallel embossed line running down the outside edges, and there are.

Two out of three and brass was a strategic metal during WWII. My vote is it's the original sling of a well-kept rifle.

stavok on What do you think of this "Legion of Frontiersmen" LOF 1876 Winchester? Would you buy it?

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:43:07 +0000

Hi,

Another one! I won’t bore you with the sordid details, but I’ve had a bad experience before with this FFL handling auctions. Against my better judgement, I won two antique winchester lots and now the FFL is wanting background check, 3 day waiting period, etc… I was already feeling like I overbid on these guns and now I’m wondering if it is worth the hassle.

Would you consider buying this gun given the limited pictures, $3500 price plus expenses, and FFL hassles?

What are the chances it is a righteous LOF gun? (yeah, I know there is not enough pictures but there were no pre auction inspections but that's another story)

Please pick apart what you see and all comments are appreciated. TIA

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/229881723_winchester-model-1876-rifle-45-75-lever-action-serial-45417-englewood-co

Zebulon on Model 71 Coming Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:37:36 +0000

Roger, I don't know what to look for on the strap for clues it might be original issue that came as part of the 71 Special style. I've seen them coiled inside the box but have not read who made them and how they might have been marked.

This one looks like a 1907 shooting sling, the one standard for the 1903 Springfield, 1917 Enfield, and Garand M1.

At a guess, Winchester probably changed suppliers at least once and may or may not have had a Winchester part or catalog number put on it. A further guess is that, toward the end of production, as sales slackened, the company may just have bought stock from Redhead or somebody, with nothing to identify the sling with Winchester.

My assumption has always been the same 1" military 1907 style leather shooting sling was furnished with the Model 70 Supergrade, the Model 71 Special and 64 Deer Rifle, and the 52 Sporting Rifle. The ones I've seen had brass keepers.

Anyone with knowledge will please correct me.

stavok on Would you buy this 1866 Yellowboy?

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:36:29 +0000

Hi,

I won't bore you with the sordid details, but I've had a bad experience before with this FFL handling auctions. Against my better judgement, I won two antique winchester lots and now the FFL is wanting background check, 3 day waiting period, etc... I was already feeling like I overbid on these guns and now I'm wondering if it is worth the hassle.

Would you consider buying this gun given the limited pictures, $3000 price plus expenses, and FFL hassles? Please pick apart what you see and all comments are appreciated. TIA

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/229881662_winchester-model-1866-lever-action-rifle-with-bayonet-englewood-co

TXGunNut on Model 71 Coming Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 23:32:46 +0000

MidwestCrisis said
That’s nice. Thank you for sharing. I’m still a bottom feeder. My wife has no problem as long as she doesn’t know. I’m not bidding over what I stated, if another member or whoever else wants a broken gun they can have it. I enjoy these conversations and appreciate the knowledge that comes from them.

Good call. The gun you want will come along if you're watching.

Mike

MidwestCrisis on Model 71 Coming Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 22:56:17 +0000

That’s nice. Thank you for sharing. I’m still a bottom feeder. My wife has no problem as long as she doesn’t know. I’m not bidding over what I stated, if another member or whoever else wants a broken gun they can have it. I enjoy these conversations and appreciate the knowledge that comes from them.

rogertherelic on Model 71 Coming Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 22:09:22 +0000

The "stains" are shadows cast from a tree limb. Poor light sourse choice, best I can do for now. Even harsher when I took the strap pictures.

Zebulon on Model 71 Coming Up

Fri, 15 May 2026 21:51:13 +0000

Looks good to me. It obviously hasn't been reblued - the serial was applied after it left the Dulite tank. For some reason, the Model 71 serials were applied in a different order. Look at the extruded borders.

It still has its #3278/M WRACO hood - sign of a meticulous owner. And the sling swivels. That's 3 or 4 hundred bucks saved right there.

Tell us some more about the strap - indicia of factory original. I've always wondered.

Is that an oil stain on the left face of the buttstock, pore filler, or the natural grain of the wood?

I like this gun a lot. It needs a range session.

Randy3590 on Winchester Eagle Scout

Fri, 15 May 2026 21:23:14 +0000

I found and bought a matched set of the Scout commemoratives (Thanks Tony)

I have 3 sons I would like to get set for each

i know it’s a long shot but does anyone have any for sale? Matched set or just the Eagle Scout?

Thank you

Randy