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September 22, 2011
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Takedown in .33 Winchester.
Treat, because I think I got it at a good price, Winchesters are way down since the last election.
Trick, because maybe there’s no future, lots of grey haired folks out there, only the really high end stuff is of interest anymore.
But I was happy to get this relatively nice takedown .33 Winchester rifle, 1902 production.
September 23, 2025
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Treat in my opinion. I am a long ways away from having gray hair, and I just bought a very similar take down 86 in 33 wcf.
45-70 brass always going to be around. Brings some stability to the equation.
September 22, 2011
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Glshuck said
Treat in my opinion. I am a long ways away from having gray hair, and I just bought a very similar take down 86 in 33 wcf.
45-70 brass always going to be around. Brings some stability to the equation.
Let’s see yours, and details.
I’ll eventually share what this one cost me. Less than I was prepared to pay.
September 23, 2025
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Never uploaded pictures before, so hopefully come through.
1907 with assumedly after the fact era correct swivel eyes. Great bore, totally standard configuration.
April 15, 2005
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Fellows;
Please send me a scanned copy of the CFM letter (or research sheet) for both of those rifles so that I can add them to my survey spreadsheet.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 20, 2023
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Gentlemen, I think those are both mighty fine examples of the breed. Opinions on horses and redheaded women can vary but the “lightweight” in 33 WCF is the Model 86 that went the whole distance. Note well production ceased only because the Model 71 replaced it.
There was a reason so many were built — they had the power, the balance, and you could carry it your ownself.
As our 450 Fuller [or is it Fuller 450, Ridge?] has pointed out in his Collector article on Ben Lilly, the 86/33 is a serious bear and elk rifle. Serious but not overwhelming, a good definition of “practical.”
- 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.
June 4, 2017
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mrcvs said of a model is
Takedown in .33 Winchester.
Treat, because I think I got it at a good price, Winchesters are way down since the last election.
Trick, because maybe there’s no future, lots of grey haired folks out there, only the really high end stuff is of interest anymore.
But I was happy to get this relatively nice takedown .33 Winchester rifle, 1902 production.
I use the Tulsa show to stay abreast of prices. I see what’s available, price tags, and the money counted. Most guns at Tulsa are sold wholesale unlike auctions and online sights. The old saying at Tulsa is if only one of a model is in the room it sells, if two are there neither sell. If it’s not there it’s rare.
I was to a local show two weeks ago and heard the same statement as your “trick” comment from several old gun dealers that weren’t selling common guns. The buyers were young by my standards, had money, and were willing to pay serious money for nice old stuff. Maybe the market is changing? But these young guys have money and are buying nice old stuff. T/R
September 22, 2011
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TR said
mrcvs said of a model is
Takedown in .33 Winchester.
Treat, because I think I got it at a good price, Winchesters are way down since the last election.
Trick, because maybe there’s no future, lots of grey haired folks out there, only the really high end stuff is of interest anymore.
But I was happy to get this relatively nice takedown .33 Winchester rifle, 1902 production.
I use the Tulsa show to stay abreast of prices. I see what’s available, price tags, and the money counted. Most guns at Tulsa are sold wholesale unlike auctions and online sights. The old saying at Tulsa is if only one of a model is in the room it sells, if two are there neither sell. If it’s not there it’s rare.
I was to a local show two weeks ago and heard the same statement as your “trick” comment from several old gun dealers that weren’t selling common guns. The buyers were young by my standards, had money, and were willing to pay serious money for nice old stuff. Maybe the market is changing? But these young guys have money and are buying nice old stuff. T/R
What would something like my rifle bring at Tulsa?
September 22, 2011
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Zebulon said
Gentlemen, I think those are both mighty fine examples of the breed. Opinions on horses and redheaded women can vary but the “lightweight” in 33 WCF is the Model 86 that went the whole distance. Note well production ceased only because the Model 71 replaced it.
There was a reason so many were built — they had the power, the balance, and you could carry it your ownself.
As our 450 Fuller [or is it Fuller 450, Ridge?] has pointed out in his Collector article on Ben Lilly, the 86/33 is a serious bear and elk rifle. Serious but not overwhelming, a good definition of “practical.”
I believe the Model 1886 in .33 Winchester was the rifle of choice for use on bear in the Adirondacks from its inception throughout the first quarter of the 20th Century.
June 4, 2017
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mrcvs said
TR said
mrcvs said of a model is
Takedown in .33 Winchester.
Treat, because I think I got it at a good price, Winchesters are way down since the last election.
Trick, because maybe there’s no future, lots of grey haired folks out there, only the really high end stuff is of interest anymore.
But I was happy to get this relatively nice takedown .33 Winchester rifle, 1902 production.
I use the Tulsa show to stay abreast of prices. I see what’s available, price tags, and the money counted. Most guns at Tulsa are sold wholesale unlike auctions and online sights. The old saying at Tulsa is if only one of a model is in the room it sells, if two are there neither sell. If it’s not there it’s rare.
I was to a local show two weeks ago and heard the same statement as your “trick” comment from several old gun dealers that weren’t selling common guns. The buyers were young by my standards, had money, and were willing to pay serious money for nice old stuff. Maybe the market is changing? But these young guys have money and are buying nice old stuff. T/R
What would something like my rifle bring at Tulsa?
Your gun is modern, the buyers at Tulsa are the table holders. Most of the table holders are collectors without FFL making it necessary for a transfer if either of you is out of state. Your buyer would have to hold a C&R or FFL. Chances are your gun would not bring full value there.
I only buy, sell, or trade antique guns when out of my state because it makes a transfer easy. My collection is almost all antique, I could not tell you what a particular modern gun might sell for at that show. T/R
November 19, 2006
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TR said
mrcvs said
TR said
mrcvs said of a model is
Takedown in .33 Winchester.
Treat, because I think I got it at a good price, Winchesters are way down since the last election.
Trick, because maybe there’s no future, lots of grey haired folks out there, only the really high end stuff is of interest anymore.
But I was happy to get this relatively nice takedown .33 Winchester rifle, 1902 production.
I use the Tulsa show to stay abreast of prices. I see what’s available, price tags, and the money counted. Most guns at Tulsa are sold wholesale unlike auctions and online sights. The old saying at Tulsa is if only one of a model is in the room it sells, if two are there neither sell. If it’s not there it’s rare.
I was to a local show two weeks ago and heard the same statement as your “trick” comment from several old gun dealers that weren’t selling common guns. The buyers were young by my standards, had money, and were willing to pay serious money for nice old stuff. Maybe the market is changing? But these young guys have money and are buying nice old stuff. T/R
What would something like my rifle bring at Tulsa?
Your gun is modern, the buyers at Tulsa are the table holders. Most of the table holders are collectors without FFL making it necessary for a transfer if either of you is out of state. Your buyer would have to hold a C&R or FFL. Chances are your gun would not bring full value there.
I only buy, sell, or trade antique guns when out of my state because it makes a transfer easy. My collection is almost all antique, I could not tell you what a particular modern gun might sell for at that show. T/R
I very much agree with TR on this point. You’re not going to get a cash offer at the Tulsa show from a table-holder anywhere close to what a gunbroker auction would bring.
As many here know, I am a .33 WCF fan and I enjoyed the rifles pictured in this threat. But a .33 WCF is not going to create excitement at Tulsa. It doesn’t have the rarity factor and the enthusiasm factor will be low. Add in TR’s point that an FFL transfer would be needed and my opinion is it would have to be a very favorable price for a table holder to jump on it.
September 22, 2011
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TR said
mrcvs said
TR said
mrcvs said of a model is
Takedown in .33 Winchester.
Treat, because I think I got it at a good price, Winchesters are way down since the last election.
Trick, because maybe there’s no future, lots of grey haired folks out there, only the really high end stuff is of interest anymore.
But I was happy to get this relatively nice takedown .33 Winchester rifle, 1902 production.
I use the Tulsa show to stay abreast of prices. I see what’s available, price tags, and the money counted. Most guns at Tulsa are sold wholesale unlike auctions and online sights. The old saying at Tulsa is if only one of a model is in the room it sells, if two are there neither sell. If it’s not there it’s rare.
I was to a local show two weeks ago and heard the same statement as your “trick” comment from several old gun dealers that weren’t selling common guns. The buyers were young by my standards, had money, and were willing to pay serious money for nice old stuff. Maybe the market is changing? But these young guys have money and are buying nice old stuff. T/R
What would something like my rifle bring at Tulsa?
Your gun is modern, the buyers at Tulsa are the table holders. Most of the table holders are collectors without FFL making it necessary for a transfer if either of you is out of state. Your buyer would have to hold a C&R or FFL. Chances are your gun would not bring full value there.
I only buy, sell, or trade antique guns when out of my state because it makes a transfer easy. My collection is almost all antique, I could not tell you what a particular modern gun might sell for at that show. T/R
Yes, and why it’s probably better to stick to the antique stuff.
I was trying to prove a point in this thread. That price points are way down since the Election of 2024 for nice, but not extraordinary stuff.
Before I toss out concrete numbers, what would YOU pay for this rifle at the following two time points:
1. A year ago, prior to the Election of 2024?;
2. And today?
I have a number I think this rifle might have brought a year ago, and I’ll reveal what I paid for this one recently. It fits nicely into my argument, as long as you agree with my hypothetical valuation a year or more ago.
June 4, 2017
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I just finished watching online the Winchesters and Colts go thru Poulin’s auction. I had discussed several items with a couple collectors and was curious if they were successful. They had the second to the highest bids. 73s,76s, and 86s were soft and 92s and 94s were strong and so were some of the Colts especially those with history. Not big enough bargains for my friends but they did have some neat stuff for sale. I expected to see bargains because of Poulin’s location and the lack of good quality pictures but most items sold within the estimate. They are really good at furnishings good photos if you request and a good company to deal with, I think you can get a deal there.
Yes some of these prices were less than a year ago, but gun types and models go in and out of favor from time to time. The collector wants rare, if he sees to many of one model it’s no longer as desirable.. Example: About 25 years ago I went to a Vegas show and counted 120 Henry’s for sale on tables. In my mind and others they were not as desirable. I wasn’t the only one to notice, run of the mill Henry prices dropped and I’m not sure they ever fully recovered. I went there to by one and didn’t, I still don’t have one. Supply and demand sets the price. T/R
September 22, 2011
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Okay, this thread did not go quite as expected, I hate to throw out concrete or abstract numbers first, as folks sometimes just agree with you, it burns less brain cells and sometimes politeness is believed to go a long way. You can’t hurt my feelings, if I overpay for something, I want to be the first to know.
The trick or treat part is only because yesterday was Halloween.
IMHO, my .33 Winchester Model 1886, as pictured in post # 1 of this thread, takedown, was solidly a $2750 rifle a year ago. I paid $1700 at auction, total cost to me was $2,072.30.
So, there you have it. Provided my estimate as to valuation a year ago is reasonable, I got this rifle for about 75% of its valuation a short 52 weeks ago. The rout seems to be that deep for anything other than the really top notch stuff or a few select sub segments of the firearms collecting field.
September 22, 2011
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And here’s the factory letter:
WINCHESTER MODEL 1886 – SERIAL NUMBER 126186
Serial number application date not available
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 33
Barrel Type: Round
Trigger: Plain
1/2 Magazine
Takedown
Received in warehouse on September 15, 1902
Shipped from warehouse on September 20, 1902, Order number 153254
November 7, 2015
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So, it seems certain segments of our hobby are experiencing a buyers’ market. When my ship comes in I’ll be getting mugged at the bus station. Hard to imagine a takedown 1886 for $2K. Well played.
Mike
September 22, 2011
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TXGunNut said
Hard to imagine a takedown 1886 for $2K. Well played.
That’s what I thought as well, unless if in poor condition, which this one is not.
Even if in .33 Winchester, it’s hard to believe a good, honest, 85% takedown rifle is hovering around the 2k mark in 2025.
September 19, 2014
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I’ve got to add, I LIKE the .33 and I like the rifle shown above! I would gladly pay that amount. I think you did well. Tim
November 19, 2006
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Good morning everyone.
But is is a good morning? I just woke up to discover some of my rifles are worth less than I thought they were 
Oh well, I still like them and that’s why I bought them.
September 22, 2011
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tim tomlinson said
I’ve got to add, I LIKE the .33 and I like the rifle shown above! I would gladly pay that amount. I think you did well. Tim
That’s what I surmised.
But that’s for now, hence the “Trick or Treat” part. It doesn’t mean that this slide doesn’t continue.
Bur, in the present, I would have felt uncomfortable if I let this one slip away to someone else at my bid, or even one several bids lower than mine (it appears at the end it was just me and one other bidder).
I attended an antique toy show yesterday (I like mechanical banks) and the crowd was the same, mostly, as antique firearms. Mostly grey and white haired men. It’s in the same venue as where I attend an antique gun show, but the crowd, sadly, seemed larger than at the antique gun show, but again, stale, male, and pale.
It could also be that this was a once yearly event and the gun show is 5 times yearly.
The October gun show had the fewest tables I had ever seen at the show, and this tends to be the biggest of the five shows. Not good.
