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At least for me anyway. This rifle surely must have some interesting history and I’d love to read a diary of what it did during its, “using” years. I appreciate that Bubba never had his hand on it. It’s not in pristine condition yet it appears pristinely original – as well as fully letterable. Strong plusses in my book. This rifle speaks to me and the more I look at it, the more I like it. It’s only sin is that it was used (extensively) for what it was made to do. And as much as it was used, it looks like it’s ready to go for another 116 years of service. 
Another factor – I wonder how many .33’s were built before this one? It seems darn early:
Steve,
Like you, I truly like old Winchester rifles like this one. There are zero doubts about its pedigree, and it can still be taken out and used for many more hunting trips without the worry of lessening its condition or value.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
If it could talk imagine the stories it could tell. My kind of Winchester also.
steve004 said
At least for me anyway. This rifle surely must have some interesting history and I’d love to read a diary of what it did during its, “using” years. I appreciate that Bubba never had his hand on it. It’s not in pristine condition yet it appears pristinely original – as well as fully letterable. Strong plusses in my book. This rifle speaks to me and the more I look at it, the more I like it. It’s only sin is that it was used (extensively) for what it was made to do. And as much as it was used, it looks like it’s ready to go for another 116 years of service.Another factor – I wonder how many .33’s were built before this one? It seems darn early:
There’s a short article in the next Winchester Collector magazine about some of the earlier 33 WCF rifles to go to the warehouse.
I was interested to discover that this very rifle just sold at Amoskeag, November, 2017:
http://www.amoskeagauction.com/116/198.php
We know now it came from the Kenneth Fry collection.
As some my have noticed (maybe someone here even owns it now) we have a final hammer price on the neat old .33. The recent hammer price on gunauction was $3536. I am struck by the fact that it was only five months ago that this rifle sold at Amoskeag for $1725. So, five months pass and it sells for over twice as much? Is this just a difference in bidders who attend a large auction house auction vs. an internet auction? The large auction houses are the place for the high dollar rifles but not the best venue for something like a .33 WCF with a good bit of wear?
steve004 said
I am struck by the fact that it was only five months ago that this rifle sold at Amoskeag for $1725. So, five months pass and it sells for over twice as much?
All it takes is two fat cats, each thinking “I won’t let that SOB get it, no matter what it costs me!”
But aren’t Amoskeag’s also on-line auctions, too?
Clarence – yes I believe that with most the big auction houses, you can bid on-line through proxi-bid and the like. I sure would have had a much poorer sense of what I was bidding on with just the couple of photos Amoskeag posted vs. the extremely large number of quality photos that the gunauction seller posted.
I think the point you make about the two fat cats is a good one and why it is hard to interpret what auction prices mean. How much can be attributed to a trend where this particular firearm is actually seeing an overall escalation in value vs. the ego of two bidders going at it?
Over the years, I’ve seen many cases where guns are bought at the large auction houses at “bargain prices” and then resold on the internet and/or big dealers for a profit. Here’s a prime example, although the big dealer hasn’t sold it yet. Spectacular rifle by the way…
http://merzantiques.com/photo/factory-engraved-gold-inlaid-winchester-model-94-rifle
Don
deerhunter said
Over the years, I’ve seen many cases where guns are bought at the large auction houses at “bargain prices” and then resold on the internet and/or big dealers for a profit.
The “big dealers” usually have big buyers who have put them on notice that they “must have” such & such, cost be damned. (Though is this particular case, the “big buyer” that Merz might have been counting on seems slow in rising to the bait.)
Don –
I had not seen that .25-35 before. Wow. I greatly enjoyed looking it. Truly a magnificent rifle with a dizzying number of special order features. And an amazing museum letter as well. Wow.
I suppose a lot of the big auction houses have plenty of dealers in the audience.
April 26, 2015
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I have a couple beautiful 1886s but the above 33 cal reminds me of my personal favorite; an extra-light, smokeless 45-70. As Bert commented, “…it can still be taken out and used for many more hunting trips without the worry of lessening its condition or value.” And I really like the 33’s steel “shotgun” buttplate, something I’ve never before seen. Also, the prices were about the same.
steve004 said
As some my have noticed (maybe someone here even owns it now) we have a final hammer price on the neat old .33. The recent hammer price on gunauction was $3536. I am struck by the fact that it was only five months ago that this rifle sold at Amoskeag for $1725. So, five months pass and it sells for over twice as much? Is this just a difference in bidders who attend a large auction house auction vs. an internet auction? The large auction houses are the place for the high dollar rifles but not the best venue for something like a .33 WCF with a good bit of wear?
The sell price at Amoskeag was very much in the correct range based on the caliber & condition of that rifle. The second sale price was well outside the range, but as others have stated, it was a pair of bidders who did not want be accused of having “LWS” (if you do not understand what that acronym means, ask me in a PM).
Bert – Proud member of the LWS club
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Bert – Proud member of the LWS club
Whatever it means, I’m a charter member.
Bruce Koligian said
I have a couple beautiful 1886s but the above 33 cal reminds me of my personal favorite; an extra-light, smokeless 45-70. As Bert commented, “…it can still be taken out and used for many more hunting trips without the worry of lessening its condition or value.” And I really like the 33’s steel “shotgun” buttplate, something I’ve never before seen. Also, the prices were about the same.
Very nice looking rifle – and fun to use/hunt with. As a deep wood brush rifle (always had been my favorite territory to hunt in) it would be a top choice for anything from deer to the biggest bears. In fact, this rifle is one of the best possible choices for this application – both 100 years ago as well as current times.
Speaking of sights that letter, here’s an early M95 .405.
In the photos taken in outdoor light, that fancy grain on the buttstock really pops
November 7, 2015
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There are about 80 pics of a nice 85 after the 1895 linked in post 16, very interesting rifle and sights. Found the listing, no mention of the sights in letter.
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/772559554
Mike
jwm94 said
JACKTHEDOG comes up with some great ones!
I agree wholeheartedly with this statement, but in the case of this .405, Chayn’s has it. Chris also comes up with some great ones.
And yes, there are also (a mistake in placement) many photos of a very interesting M1885 in the rare .40 Express
Here is the listing for that rifle:
November 7, 2015
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Happy mistake, I wouldn’t have seen that 1885 if he hadn’t put them with that awesome 1895. Just occurred to me it may not have been a mistake.
Mike
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