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October 14, 2024
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Hi gang. I don’t have interest in this rifle but I just stumbled upon it on the Simpson website. Description states that it may have been restored but it’s difficult for them to tell because of the quality of the restoration. I’m interested in knowing what the experts say here.
April 15, 2005
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As the seller states “probably restored”.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Most likely restored. Metal to wood fitment is not up to Winchester standards.
November 7, 2015
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Very nice. IF restored seems to be an above average job.
Mike
February 26, 2021
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TXGunNut said
Very nice. IF restored seems to be an above average job.
Mike
I agree…..☝🏽
November 7, 2015
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My issue is that it’s too nice. Screws are perfect with no oil or other residue in the slots and no hint a poorly fit screwdriver has ever touched them. The wood to metal gaps are maybe a bit wide but again, no oil or other residue. I think at the very least it has been disassembled recently and thoroughly cleaned. No idea why that would be necessary. Pics all look nice but the pics of the stampings, dovetails and sights are conspicuous in their absence. Very nice.
Mike
September 22, 2011
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The wood to metal fit, especially at the rear receiver and the buttstock is not of factory quality and tells us this is likely a restoration.
Because of this, the asking price of $18,500 is well beyond exuberant.
January 8, 2025
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How often would someone that’s not a member of WACA have a gun refinished like that? Seems to me Simpson is giving accolades to the gunsmiths that did the work, but also giving a collector something to ponder on. There’s a couple videos on the YouTube. The RIA in its original shipping crate. And a wonderful refinished 1886 that’s been on this forum, and is a gorgeous rifle.
October 14, 2024
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I thought that it was a very nice looking rifle ……….almost to nice. I don’t study the market value of the 1886’s but, the price seemed high to me.
December 9, 2002
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I’m in agreement with the members here, and as Bert said it was stated as “probably restored”!
One has to ask themself, if a rifle was bought 1890, did the buyer of this said rifle choose to buy it and leave it in storage? With it’s original finish and protective coating on it to keep it pristine?
I highly Doubt it!
Where’s the box and paper work? We know that keeping that back then wasn’t considered anything that was really done. Just taking it out over the years to play show and tell with family and friends can show some handling marks. This ones metal finish looks new! So is the wood!
I highly doubt it!
I know that I wouldn’t be interested in it, as a restored example for $18,000.00! One could get a Turnbull example for that kind of money that seems to hold they’re value and possibly increase with provenance!
I do agree, it’s a very clean example, and a pretty nice job was done on it, as the work out there has improved that we are seeing today!
Tony
January 20, 2023
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If you just want one to play with, you can get a 45-90 for less than a 10th of 18K and the workmanship is as good as on that one. 
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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