How would you define “betweeners”? This may not necessarily be a bad thing for you or I, if you are not super wealthy.  Perhaps some nice Winchesters might be had by you or I for a more affordable price???

Count me in as a card carrying member of the “betweeners club”.

TR said
  mrcvs, There are  high condition guns and low condition guns with “betweeners” in between. I can no longer afford the high condition but I can afford more “betweeners”. Good point. T/R    

When you think about it, this reflects the current stratification of wealth in this country.  The 1% are getting ever wealthier. They have more and more disposable income.  If they want something, it doesn’t really matter what it cost, just as long as they have it.  As they become wealthier and wealthier, the objects they desire become more and more valuable.  These folks collect the rare, minty and unusual.  This is independent of the issue with grey haired folks only collecting antique firearms.  Some folks who are young and very wealthy collect these not as a “gun” but as a “work of art”.

The “betweeners” are the firearms for the middle class, albeit often an upper middle class.  As inflation erodes their buying power, their wages have remained flat over more than a generation now, and as the middle class is slowly shrinking, there are less folks with less disposable income to buy the “betweeners”.  Simple supply and demand suggests that these type of firearms might decline in value.  This doesn’t even account for the fact that grey haired folks collect antique firearms and younger folks just aren’t all that interested.

The poor in this country, while increasing in ranks, have virtually no disposable income.  If they even purchase a firearm, they are not true collectors.  They can only consider guns with problems and issues.  These don’t ever, and all never, appreciate.  Sometimes their best fate is to be parted out.

Think about it!

I wasn’t necessarily referring to high end engraved out of this world guns selling for 500 or 600-k as an indicator to the market. What I’m seeing is the market for extremely high condition Winchester’s has started to climb upward. This will naturally bring the so called betweener’s up also. This particular sale had a lot attention and double the amount of folks in attendance and more phone bidders than I’ve ever seen at a Julia’s auction. This could be part of the reason or maybe people are just feeling better about the US economy and are spending accordingly. 

Matt,

I agree these great guns may take years if ever to be seen again. This particular collection was assembled over a 50 year period   so some of items have been hidden away for decades. Glad I was able to go and add a couple to my collection

I’ve had a chance to take a closer look at Ray’s collection this week (Julia auction). It was particularly interesting as the auction is over and the hammer prices could be viewed.  What a collection he had!  And this is just the first of three installments they will be selling?  Not only Winchesters but Colts, Marlins, trophy cups, cartridge boards and boxes, saddles, knives and on and on.  Simply amazing. The fancy Henry’s and early Winchester rifles were my favorites.  Some of those engraved 66’s and 73’s… just outstanding.  However, to be honestly self-reflective, I’m not completely envious.  If I had items of that magnitude, I worry they would own me vs. me owning them.  I think as we all know, there is much enjoyment and satisfaction to be found in owning the plain pieces too.