Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
What would be the easy way to find out what the original sales price of a Winchester rifle. I have several .22’s, (Models 03, 06, 61, 62A, 63) with manufacture dates form 30’s to late 50’s. My grandson asked me yesterday what one of them had cost when it was made. Good question. “I don’t know” – bad answer. My first thought was “get old catalog” ouch, research on cost for old catalogs says big bucks and I don’t want to collect old catalogs. Second thought WACA forum. Here I am. Can anyone help me here? Is there any such thing as a searchable price list for original manufacture prices by date and model number? Thanks for your help if you can.
U.S. Army combat vet, 32 years CCFD Lt. (retired), NRA Benefactor member, Marlin Firearms Collector Asso., Cody Firearms Museum member - 89213093, WACA member - 11928, Griffin Gun Club board member, Hunter, BPCR shooter, Hand loader, Bullet Caster
The Red Book of Winchester Values lists the original prices of every model plus a huge wealth of other info. This book can be purchased for half price in the store under books on this website. Can’t think of any better investment for $30.
https://winchestercollector.org/store/
Don
Thank you deerhunter, I’ll check it out. I knew there was a better way than becoming a catalog collector. 30 bucks is a can do. That “wealth of other info” part will just add to the Iceing on my cake.
U.S. Army combat vet, 32 years CCFD Lt. (retired), NRA Benefactor member, Marlin Firearms Collector Asso., Cody Firearms Museum member - 89213093, WACA member - 11928, Griffin Gun Club board member, Hunter, BPCR shooter, Hand loader, Bullet Caster
November 7, 2015
Offline
Lt. Mike said
Thank you deerhunter, I’ll check it out. I knew there was a better way than becoming a catalog collector. 30 bucks is a can do. That “wealth of other info” part will just add to the Iceing on my cake.
A catalog collection may give you a more complete picture of prices by date because the Red Book gives the original price. Prices sometimes changed over the years and being able to observe that change might be interesting. I’m a big fan of the “wealth of other info” in the Red Book and consider it an essential component of my reference library. I even keep a second copy in the vehicle in case I wander into a gun shop during my travels. It can be said that any price guide is obsolete today but the Red Book values are still a good place to start.
Mike
If your a serious collector, it never hurts to get you a set of these.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/12-volume-set-catalogues-winchester-509938012
But the only pitfall is that they stop at 1918.
If you want pricing from 1960-1981, here is a good place to start.
https://cartridgecollectors.org/ammunition-catalogs/Winchester-Western
Otherwise you’ll have to hunt around and find individual catalogs from 1918-1960. I don’t know of anywhere else to find between these years. One problem is that everything before 1923 is public domain but after 1923 is technically subject to copyright laws. So I don’t think you’ll be able to find anything readily available for free on the internet.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Hi Lt. Mike-
I know it’s only partial help, but digital scans of several Winchester catalogs from the 1918-1960 period, including sometimes the retail, retail-wholesale, and retail-wholesale-distributor versions (differing only in what prices are shown), are available from the McCracken Library of the Cody Firearms Museum.
The years I’ve found thus far are 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1959. There might be some between 1918 and 1936, but since my interest starts in 1936, I have not downloaded any earlier ones. It’s worth a look…
A good place to start is: http://library.centerofthewest.org/digital/collection/p17097coll30/search/order/identi/ad/asc
This is collection MS 020 the “Winchester Repeating Arms Company Archive”. There are thousands of documents (sadly not nearly enough) and you have to dig around and try different searches b/c their “Archon” system is more archaic than a dummy like me can easily navigate. BUT… If you can find something of interest it is possible to download the digital file to your computer AND it’s free (except for the investment of your time)!!!
Another thing to check, especially if you’re only interested in the information (not the artifact) and have specific years in mind, is to check Cornell Publications, which sells catalog reprints for mostly <$20.00. Not always the best quality scans and not intended to look like originals, but legible. Good source of information:
https://www.cornellpubs.com/index.php
Good luck!!! 
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
I have nearly all of the catalogs from 1885 through 1968 (originals and reprints). They were necessary when I was compiling the information for the Red Book. If you have a specific Model and year in mind, I can look it up.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I have a Stoeger catalog from 1957 and to give you some idea, here are the retail prices for these models from that year:
Model 61: $57.90
Model 62: $49.75
Model 63: $74.95
Online
Lt. Mike said
My grandson asked me yesterday what one of them had cost when it was made. Good question. “I don’t know” – bad answer.
Any answer you gave them based on prices in old catalogs would be VERY misleading without a careful explanation of the drastic changes in the relative value of the dollar–its purchasing power–between then & now. You’d have to make it clear that what a dollar would buy then is not at all the same as what it buys today. Conversion charts are made that attempt to translate the worth of a dollar in any given yr in the past into its comparable value today, but they should be used with some skepticism, because they’re calculated from so many different variables; in other words, look at 2 or 3 of them & average them out, as I’ve found they don’t agree.
Only value I can see in knowing original prices is for the purpose of comparing costs between one model & another, & one mfgr. & another–cost of a Win ’94 vs a Marlin ’95, for ex.
Ah Yes, I don’t know how I forgot about the McCraken, I look at it all the time. Another great resource indeed!
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Thank you verrry much fellows. Didn’t think I would get this much feed back. I got my Red Book in the mail yesterday and was up late last night trying to absorb the mounds of info. I now own six of the early .22 cal. rifles, an ’03, ’06, 61, 62A, and 2 – 63’s. They are all “shooters” and I either purchased or traded for them as such (sorry collectors). The ’03 is the rifle my Dad taught me to shoot with at the ripe old age of 6 and I love it still, hard to find ammo for it but I run across some now and then.
As for my Grandson’s question about the original cost of the rifles, at 16 he is very aware of the purchasing power of the dollar, both historically and present day. His father and I try to teach him correct history which they don’t seem to teach in schools now.
U.S. Army combat vet, 32 years CCFD Lt. (retired), NRA Benefactor member, Marlin Firearms Collector Asso., Cody Firearms Museum member - 89213093, WACA member - 11928, Griffin Gun Club board member, Hunter, BPCR shooter, Hand loader, Bullet Caster
Mr. Bert H.
I have acquired a Winchester 02-22 short that also shoots long and extra long. Manufacturing date is Aug 29 1889. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this gun and a range on the value of it. The gun was my great grandmother and grandfather’s. They were born in 1900 and 1895. I been told that the gun was handed down to my great grandpa by his father. The gun is not in NEW condition but it still shoots, its actions are tight and in good shape. It visual wear due to the years on it. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
ERIK RUHE said
Mr. Bert H.I have acquired a Winchester 02-22 short that also shoots long and extra long. Manufacturing date is Aug 29 1889. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this gun and a range on the value of it. The gun was my great grandmother and grandfather’s. They were born in 1900 and 1895. I been told that the gun was handed down to my great grandpa by his father. The gun is not in NEW condition but it still shoots, its actions are tight and in good shape. It visual wear due to the years on it. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
The date you see rolled marked on the barrel is the Patent date versus the date of manufacture, and it is actually August 1898 (or 1899). The Model 1902 was introduced in the January 1903 catalog, with actual production beginning sometime in mid year 1902. In the year 1919, the model designation was shortened from “1902” to “02”. The 22 Extra Long chambering was discontinued in early 1927 which indicates that your Model 02 was manufactured sometime in the years 1919 – 1926.
Most Model 02 rifles saw a lot of less than careful use and they show it. Based on your brief description, it sounds like your rifle fits into that category. Accordingly, the intrinsic value of the rifle is unlikely to exceed $250.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert
Thanks for your insight on the gun. I appreciate it. May have more questions about Winchester as I learn what all I have in the collection. My father passed away back in June and Mom has given me his collection of firearms. He liked his single and double barrels along with his .22s He has several Model 37 Winchesters I know but not details of them yet
1 Guest(s)
