Burt Humphrey said
I first posted this 2 years ago but thought it would be appropriate to re-post, reflect on Winchester collecting and how my road has continued to change over the last couple of years. The original post contains an interesting story from 1873man (Bob) about family heirlooms – when you read it pay special attention to the photos of the engraved Model 1894 – what a gem it is. Yes, I still have the superb Model 66 carbine which my wife bought me for Christmas 27 years ago. I have sold a lot of my lever action Winchesters over the last few years but the 66 will be one of the last to go. Earlier tonight I pulled every one of my lever action Winchesters out of the safe, put a light coat of snake oil on them and reflected on how long I had owned them and who I bought them from. With one exception, every Winchester I own was purchased from someone that is now deceased. Now, that gives a guy reason to pause and reflect! It seems like I was always the younger guy at the gun shows and I will be 70 in the spring. I do not know where time went and I am sure many of you feel the same way. I have struggled with selling my guns because I don’t need the money and I always miss them when they are gone. However, I don’t want my wife to be burdened with them someday. So, a few years ago I decided I would thin the herd and just keep one of every model lever action – my wife will just have to figure out how to deal with those. I am not down to one of each model yet but I am getting close. I have sold many of my guns to WACA members and I know those that bought them were elated to find guns that were original and correct, having not been thru auctions or on the gun show circuit – my guns were tucked away long before the internet existed. There is a lot of discussion about the market being soft and guns not selling – here on the Forum I can tell many of you are worried. I do not disagree but I think there will always be a market for guns that are original, correct and have condition – actually, good guns are bringing high prices at auctions. Even 40 years ago brown guns were hard to sell and they did not appreciate like the good guns. I have always thought a collector should concentrate on quality rather than quantity – I still feel that way. In the original post 2 years ago I spoke about my old friend Tommy Rholes – what a guy he was and I get teary eyed just thinking about the times we had. I still own a couple of guns that were once in his personal collection. About 40 years ago I was at a Las Vegas gun show with Tommy and as we were pouring blended Canadian down one night in the hotel, he told me ” if you have $10,000 to spend, buy the best gun you can get for $10,000 – don’t go buy 10 one-thousand dollar guns”. I think that was good advice then and it is good advice now. As 2019 comes to a close I would like to wish all WACA members a happy holiday season and the best in 2020. Enjoy your Winchester’s, enjoy your friends, enjoy your family – life is short. Attached is the model 94 family: Top is Model 1894 in 32-40 – Middle is Model 55 in 30 WCF (serial # 5) and bottom is Model 64 219 Zipper.

  

I’m not much younger than you, and have been selling off many of mine also for the same reasons except no wife, just kids. I started collecting when I was a kid. My younger brother and I used to hit all the shows in Alaska. Also used to roam the pawn shops in Anchorage back in the days when you could still find collectible firearms there. When my brother passed away, I ended up with his stuff. That kind of took the fun out of it for me, at least for a while. I think about who will buy these old guns in the future. It’s usually the gray hairs that are interested or buying. Funny thing happened a few days ago though. I stopped by a friends house to install a new dishwasher. The 8 year old boy there was watching old Westerns on the tv. Black and white no less. I sat down and chatted with him for a while. Lifted my spirits some. 

Merry Christmas everyone. May 2020 be a great year for you and your family.

I’ve enjoyed this multiyear Thread and particularly the centerfold quality 66 Win., which genre I know nothing about! 🙂  My observing something of an irony in the fact that it looks so good, casual glance I’d have taken it for a repro!  No offense intended for sure! 

Bert I appreciate your “buy the best gun…” strategy.  But to contrast as ‘not for me’.  First, I’ve never pointedly & primarily bought guns for investment.  The primary factor had to be collector attraction and such “according to my fashion”.  ‘While ‘almost’ never to substantially “overpay”, but investment potential consideration itself; simply a happy bonus as coinciding.  My personal ‘formula’ particularly as ‘fatal attraction’ :), was in the question:  If not to buy this specimen before me; how long and what chances, to a future opportunity.  I might well pay what I considered ‘full bore’, in that context.  Call it “an insurance premium” for achieving ‘bird in hand’!

And for me… the 10 @ decent used rifles at $1K each, definitely my preference. To sound sophisticated, call it “diversified portfolio” and perhaps conclusion in fact.  But I’d rather buy into rifles I could ‘field’; and not worry about a scratch lopping off $1K+ penalty. Rifles with at a bit of shop-wear & beyond’ history, conjuring prior owners & uses. Rifles with ammo yet available as my acquisition era; rejecting obsolete chamberings.  I’ve likely missed some great buys in such ammo context hindsight but “c’est la vie!”  “No lamenting zones here!”  Focus on the great guns I’ve achieved!  For sure!!!

In this Forum, I can enjoy the wisdom & sharing of all you ardent, expert collectors to provide me with opportunity to learn about the rare; to observe & admire the “super guns”.  For me in my safes, the Mulligan Stew formula…  And loving it!  🙂  

Happy holidays & special greeting to Steve & family! 

Best! John

Manuel said

Post of the year right here!!!  

I agree. Thank goodness there’s more than one way of collecting. That’s what keeps this wonderful group interesting.

Just a note on comparability the ’86 certainly did increase in value, how much I don’t know ’cause He didn’t say, how ever if the mustang was locked away in the garage and not used, only on sunny Sundays, it would now sell upwards of the $50,000.00 range. I sold a original 29000 mi., 1967 fastback last years for $80,000.00. That car sold new in California in ’67 for $4450.00.

Myself & my envious little brother.  A genuine Stevens Favorite!

It was a treat to sign on this morning and see such beautiful rifles

Merry Christmas to ALL

Edit –

Bob – I’m still thinking about that engraved M1894 with all those fabulous special order features that came out of your father’s collection.  Just amazing.

It prompted me to reflect over how well it works out for me that none of the Ten Commandments state:  “Thous shalt not covet they neighbor’s rifle.”

I sure could have been in a whole lot of trouble.

What a great read! Now this is tradition, Merry Christmas to all. btw Bert nice photo of Santa,

Merry Christmas everyone.