Long story short, I have in my possession a 1984 SRC that my friend is trying to sell. He is under the impression that he can get 90% collectors value, and i dont want to offend him when I only offer $400, but I feel thats where its at. I’m here as a new member for some unbiased opinions
Any insight would be appreciated
Ian,
I think your $400 offer is more than fair. The butt stock is wood stove fodder (and is not original to the gun). The overall graded condition is near the bottom end of the scale. Your friend is living in a fantasy world in regards to the value of that neglected SRC. What is the serial number on this SRC?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I have gotten a lot of guns like that. Old English liquid scratch cover improves the wood 100%. I would take off the tape and replace it with rawhide held in place with antique brass tacks. It completely changes the appearance of the gun. I would pay a little more, because I know I could improve it and make it look like a true Old West artifact.
Bert H. said
Ian,
I think your $400 offer is more than fair. The butt stock is wood stove fodder (and is not original to the gun). The overall graded condition is near the bottom end of the scale. Your friend is living in a fantasy world in regards to the value of that neglected SRC. What is the serial number on this SRC?
Bert
Serial #441411, 1908 production if the sources i saw were right
November 7, 2015

A parts vendor may offer him more. I’d be a buyer if I wanted Turnbull to do his magic on a SRC for me. The gun’s got a truck load of character but I don’t think anyone’s paying for that these days. If your friend thinks this is a 90% gun you’re trying to go up Niagara Falls in a rowboat with a broken oar. He’s obviously seeing something we’re not.
Mike
In my friends defense, he’s not a collector, he inherited this gun. Someone told him the age and model, he did quick google search and saw the Auction links and prices. I like the character, and see potential in it as well, but didnt see it above $400, and can easily walk away and let him try his luck elsewhere.
November 7, 2015

Ian-
I suspect this gun is worth more to your friend than most buyers. He may know the family history and that makes it more valuable than a high condition gun…..to him. I like the gun but I can only justify so many “shooters” and “relics”. I’d pay $400 to hang it on the wall but those spots are already taken.
Mike

mrcvs said
Unfortunately, your friend’s Winchester 1894 has ZERO collector’s value and I wouldn’t pay anywhere $400 for it. It’s a parts gun. Meaning I’d part it out on eBay. The stock is best suited for kindling a warm fire on Christmas morning.Sorry to be blunt…
I have to agree 100% with the quote above. If the gun has this much wear, odds are the bore is the same. A lot of non gun owners & collectors when presented with an old gun or Winchester for the first time think that they have something but, a lot of things come into play as you can see. Your friend just doesn’t realize, that’s all.
RickC
RickC said
I have to agree 100% with the quote above. If the gun has this much wear, odds are the bore is the same. A lot of non gun owners & collectors when presented with an old gun or Winchester for the first time think that they have something but, a lot of things come into play as you can see. Your friend just doesn’t realize, that’s all.
RickC
Appreciate the opinions. My wife also thanks you, she thought $400 was too much too. I like the character, and as far as i can tell its operational(wont rip it apart without his permission) i think i could make it a nice piece even though it will never be a valuable item.
I dont think my friend is delusional, he’s just ignorant to all the aspects of what makes the piece more or less valuable. For the time being im just holding it for him, when the time comes he can sell it to me, or take his chances finding someone who might offer more.
clarence said
TXGunNut said
Ian-
He may know the family history and that makes it more valuable than a high condition gun…..to him.I’d hate to think anyone in my family was capable of trashing a gun to this extent.
This was not a heirloom. My friend was a caretaker for a nice old man for the last 8 years. The old man bought it an estate sale several years back. No emotional attachment, no stories or anecdotes, just an old gun in bad shape.
With a broken and welded upper tang, wood condition, etc, the best thing for this one is to find some ammo for it and throw it behind the truck seat or just hang it on the wall somewhere.
IMHO, its worth more as functional firearm for use (if functional), than the sum of its remaining salvageable parts.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
Bert H. said
Ian,
I think your $400 offer is more than fair. The butt stock is wood stove fodder (and is not original to the gun). The overall graded condition is near the bottom end of the scale. Your friend is living in a fantasy world in regards to the value of that neglected SRC. What is the serial number on this SRC?
Bert
We have all run into those folks that think just because it’s old, it’s worth a bunch of money.
I have bought ones in better shape for less money. I have a 94SRC that I paid $100 for and then restored. The metal was covered in some kind of lacquer but otherwise smooth. Bore was bright. Wood was completely trashed and parts were missing. I bought new wood from Dixie, and had the metal carefully cleaned and blued. Fit the wood to the gun and sanded and put on a finish that matched closely what the original would look like. Found parts to replace the missing ones, (front site, saddle ring and stud, maybe a couple screws) It turned out great. Yes, it isn’t original. So fight me. I like it none the less.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
1892takedown said
With a broken and welded upper tang, wood condition, etc, the best thing for this one is to find some ammo for it and throw it behind the truck seat…
When I saw the first ads for those back-window gun-racks in the ’60s, I couldn’t wait to get one for my ’60-something Chevy short-bed. But then I lost my nerve about hanging a gun I valued there (I almost never lock whatever I’m driving), & used it merely for hanging miscellaneous “stuff.” This sad specimen would be tailor-made for that purpose!
Such an abused gun. Even has tape for a barrel band.
Buy it if you want an expensive conversation piece; otherwise, run away!
If you are thinking of shooting it for more than the noise factor, why would you spend your money on this one? …tape barrel band, non-original trashed butt-stock, cracked and never oiled fore-stock, broken upper tang, etc,…neglected to the extent that all previous owners have brought bad Karma upon themselves! (just kidding about the Karma) (maybe)
You can easily find a better gun for that money.
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