Tastes differ but I feel that collectors in the future will focus on guns that are original as well as restorations and quite possibly replicas. I don’t know why Mike changed the chambering on this beautiful M1886 but I suspect the bore wasn’t up to his standards. I hope the collector demand for Winchesters will someday exceed the supply of originals and we all know they aren’t making any more of them, with a few notable fraudulent exceptions. Restorations are a window into the past that when properly done allow us to see our guns as they were generations or even a century ago. After many of us are gone collectors may look upon this time as the “Golden Age” of Winchesters with so many original guns available. OTOH they may see a bunch of old guns and wonder what we saw in them. I wish I knew. All we can do is take care of the guns we’re fortunate enough to be custodians of and enjoy the guns that appeal to us. If we alienate those who see value in restored firearms we may become irrelevant before we become extinct. As the auctioneers say; “buy what you like, like what you buy”. Buying a gun because someone may pay a bunch of money for it in the future is too risky for me, I’ll be buying guns I like. OTOH it really doesn’t matter what I like; our hobby survives and is interesting because we have different likes and sometimes our tastes change. I want there to be a market for guns like this because I don’t want the skills required to build a gun like this to become a lost art. Today anyone who can assemble an M4 platform firearm calls himself a gunsmith and we know that’s not true.

Mike

Clarence and Mike,

  A few off the cuff ideas of my own here.  First, I would appreciate the fact they remarked the barrel without the remarking of the under barrel marks.  That way in some future period of time, it would be harder for some one to pass off as a well preserved original condition rifle.  And there are folks who have the knowledge and skills to remark the under barrel markings so true aficionados can not tell.  Second, in the 1886’s the .45-70 chambering will likely appeal to a wider segment than the .40-82.  Yes, there are those who appreciate the .40-82, but take your own likes and dislikes out of the equation and the more popular chambering is the .45-70.  Wider appeal and likely wider participation in the bidding.  And third and last, IF I were to buy it, I would be quite willing to SHOOT it as it is, where a nice, original rifle in pretty high condition may well not make the trip to my local range.  Having said that, I have taken some really high condition pieces to shoot just the one time to say I did.  They stayed in my truck until I had the range to myself, then I VERY CAREFULLY used the carpeted, concrete shooting bench to be sure I didn’t screw up myself and ding it another time or two!  I have had one or two rifles damaged by other, well meaning but clumsy or ignorant folks at the range.  No need to take those chances on original high condition rifles that are rare jewels that are not replaceable.   My take, at least.  To each their own!  

Tim  

Owning a couple special guns are good for one’s soul, whether or not one chooses to shoot them doesn’t really matter.