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Nice clean looking rifle, but it is not 100% factory original. How many of you see what is not original ?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
The hammer on the Gun Broker rifle sn 148 should have the “widows peak” hammer. It has a later, possibly replacement hammer.
The reverse mortgage comment is funny and a perfect fit!
Steve, thanks for the notes about Selleck’s W-K. It is incredibly nice. So nice it gets me to wondering if it is all original or an old professional restoration, either way it should bring a very pretty penny! Also, I think I see a “U” on the forend barrel band, so it would have been intended for military use, but why would the stocks have a special order oil finish rather than the typical varnish type, unless it was standard for military pieces? Any ideas?
James
That’s what it says in the description for s/n 148, “The hammer may be a later replacement as I believe it should have the “widows peak” pattern.” T/R
#148 will be interesting as it started at a penny and of course, with Chayns auctions, no reserve. His auctions are very popular so who knows how high it might go. The replaced hammer would bother me – at least as far as having to pay a top premium price for it.
jwm94 said
The reverse mortgage comment is funny and a perfect fit!
Steve, thanks for the notes about Selleck’s W-K. It is incredibly nice. So nice it gets me to wondering if it is all original or an old professional restoration, either way it should bring a very pretty penny! Also, I think I see a “U” on the forend barrel band, so it would have been intended for military use, but why would the stocks have a special order oil finish rather than the typical varnish type, unless it was standard for military pieces? Any ideas?
James
James – I agree Tom’s W-K is incredibly nice. When I first saw it, I thought it was perhaps, “frighteningly nice.” Much more to worry about when purchasing a rifle like that vs. something with honest finish wear. As far as the, “U” on the barrel band, I couldn’t blow it up enough to know for sure if that’s what it was. As I mentioned, rifles like this leave me a bit anxious. Right now, I’m looking at a couple .45-60 W-K’s I have here. They may be brown but they are unquestioningly honest. I see a bonus with them as well – my two have stories to tell. I’ve had both of them to the range on several occasions – and not a bit of worry with that. And… they cost a whole lot less than what Tom’s will sell for!
tionesta1 said
The hammer on the Gun Broker rifle sn 148 should have the “widows peak” hammer. It has a later, possibly replacement hammer.
Correct! The hammer is positively (not “possibly”) a replacement item.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hello all,
It has been a good few weeks at the ranch. One doe, a nice 8 point buck both with a bow. 2 hogs and 4 coyotes via a thermal sighted .308. Meat in the freezer, sausage being smoked, and a few less predators around. Life is good.
This post started out with a Model 1892 SRC owned by Tom Selleck. He did not own it for very long as it was last seen at auction in March of 2018 at Julias and sold for $35,650!! That’s a lot of bananas!! https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/item/53091-89-402/
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
The provenance of this Model 1892 Trapper was from the collection of Ray Bentley. I have been informed by more than one knowledgeable collector that he tended to buy some very nice stuff, but not nearly perfect, and he would employ the right skilled craftsmen to improve many of the items in his collection. That is, known items were in a lesser state when purchased but when offered for sale when his estate was sold, they were in amazingly better condition than before. I’m not saying this is the case with this piece, bit as with anything, do your homework and caveat emptor. FWIW…
twobit said
Hello all,It has been a good few weeks at the ranch. One doe, a nice 8 point buck both with a bow. 2 hogs and 4 coyotes via a thermal sighted .308. Meat in the freezer, sausage being smoked, and a few less predators around. Life is good.
This post started out with a Model 1892 SRC owned by Tom Selleck. He did not own it for very long as it was last seen at auction in March of 2018 at Julias and sold for $35,650!! That’s a lot of bananas!! https://www.morphyauctions.com/jamesdjulia/item/53091-89-402/
Michael
Michael – great to see you surface again. I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say you were missed. But taking time away for the adventures you have had is very worthwhile. Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Much more fun than can be found sitting in front of a computer. Interesting to know Tom’s trapper carbine was acquired in fairly recent times. RIA’s high end of the auction estimate is nearly $20K more than what it had sold for – it will be interesting to see how it ends up.
mrcvs said
The provenance of this Model 1892 Trapper was from the collection of Ray Bentley. I have been informed by more than one knowledgeable collector that he tended to buy some very nice stuff, but not nearly perfect, and he would employ the right skilled craftsmen to improve many of the items in his collection. That is, known items were in a lesser state when purchased but when offered for sale when his estate was sold, they were in amazingly better condition than before. I’m not saying this is the case with this piece, bit as with anything, do your homework and caveat emptor. FWIW…
CAVEAT EMPTOR! You just can’t say it too many times.
Good morning Steve,
Yes it has been nice to be “off the grid” and just having fun. I still need to get in some good fishing on the Texas coast with my fly rods looking for redfish. I would truly rather do that if I had to choose. But it has been blowing like crazy and there was lots of ranch work to do in between morning and evening hunting. And of coarse the freezer was looking pretty empty after a summer of eating.
The RIA high end estimate of $55,000 is crazy in my estimation. Yeah it’s a nice rifle but its just a simple, late production SRC. I don’t hold up Tom Selleck as any special person to justify any bonus for the provenance. He was just an actor and heck, he has only had it for two years. OK, he is from Detroit like me. I’ll chip in an extra $5. I do think these estimates are put up as a way to “legitimize” someone going nuts and bidding that much. “Well the auction house thought it could be worth that much” But it always comes down to ones own value of their money. Not everyone looks at $10,000 the same way.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Michael – it sounds like you are living large – good for you.
Auctions are a great way to spend more for something than it is worth. There are many factors that favor the auction houses (and internet auctions for that matter). The auction description hype, the excitement, ego and competition and so on. These type factors often contribute to crazy hammer prices. What astounds me is that many of the bidders (and winners) are speculators who have the agenda of turning the item around for a profit. How this is possible after a crazy hammer price and on top of that, auction juice, sales tax etc. leaves me scratching my head. One thing for sure is that big money is often involved. I suppose a lot of these guys live in a different world than I do, so it’s not meant for me to understand.
I hope you can get after those redfish.
Steve, Your comments on auctions are true but to be fair how else can you get a fair and equal chance to own a rare Winchester. We need more collector to collector direct sales, easier said than done. T/R
TR said
Steve, Your comments on auctions are true but to be fair how else can you get a fair and equal chance to own a rare Winchester. We need more collector to collector direct sales, easier said than done. T/R
T/R –
I shouldn’t complain. I’ve never needed to spend five figures to find a Winchester to be happy with. In fact, I’ve found many for THREE figures that I’ve found much enjoyment in. And, they haven’t been reblued or messed with. There’s also a lot of decent Winchesters out there in the one to two-thousand range. But like anything, the thirst for better, rarer, nicer grows. Deluxe models, special order, high condition, freakishly rare, it gets difficult to keep the lust in check. Wanting and focusing what is out of reach is typical human nature.
TR said
Steve, Your comments on auctions are true but to be fair how else can you get a fair and equal chance to own a rare Winchester. We need more collector to collector direct sales, easier said than done. T/R
Well said. I like buying guns at a gun show. You can pick it up and look at it, do a little bartering and if all works out you buy it with no extras added.
Collectors have to learn to keep their emotions in check when buying. I have learned that no matter what you are looking for another will come by sooner or later. There are a few exceptions but in most cases eventually you will find another.
Chuck said
TR said
Steve, Your comments on auctions are true but to be fair how else can you get a fair and equal chance to own a rare Winchester. We need more collector to collector direct sales, easier said than done. T/RWell said. I like buying guns at a gun show. You can pick it up and look at it, do a little bartering and if all works out you buy it with no extras added.
Collectors have to learn to keep their emotions in check when buying. I have learned that no matter what you are looking for another will come by sooner or later. There are a few exceptions but in most cases eventually you will find another.
I would echo the comments made by both Chuck and TR. I would add that whether you find another one or not, there’s great probability you will find something you like even better. There’s a lot of fish in the sea out there.
Auction ended this morning – Tom’s Trapper ’92. Auction estimate of $35,000 to $55,000. Hammer price was $60,000.
steve004 said
Auction ended this morning – Tom’s Trapper ’92. Auction estimate of $35,000 to $55,000. Hammer price was $60,000.
CRAZY money in my book!! WOW! The guy was just an actor in a mediocre TV show. He didn’t split the atom. He didn’t cure cancer or Covid. He didn’t use the gun to beat in the door of a burning orphanage to save children. Just another created “important person” from Hollywood. You might guess by now I was not bidding on it!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
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