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Do you tend to focus on particular models or model Winchester in your collecting or take a more general approach with your acquisitions?
If you focus, what models and why?
Personally, I felt a need to educate myself as much as possible to help insure purchase of the finest and most ‘correct’ Winchesters I could afford and this would be easier and less timely studying up on just one or two models then the entire Winchester line.
The 1873 and 1886 just struct my interest from the beginning even though I’m a fan of all models.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
I focus on the John M. Browning designed & patented Winchester models… which still covers a lot of ground!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
As a little boy, I just wanted a Winchester. As my eye developed, I migrated toward the crescent butt and the saddle ring. Then came the octagon, and long. I fell off the forearm band, and started to appreciate the forearm cap. But I still liked the 94 with those features. As I got older, I began to think less about appearances and more about history.
As is the case with many American males, “bigger is better” so I was pleasantly surprised by the 86. I found it not only pre-dated the 94, but it cycled beer cans, threw pistol-diameter lead, and, while bigger and bulkier, still managed to maintain decent lines. Especially the long barreled ones. The 86 seemed to have it all.
That happened about the time I started making a little money so I started buying 86s. Coincidentally, they all happened to have been made in 1892. So I started paying attention to that year, in the (unrealistic) hopes I might pick up a consecutive. (Hell, I admit I still look the numbers for that reason when I see one.)
Further thought on the matter had me confessing to myself that 1886 was also after “the west” was pretty much settled. And, even if my model 86s were from a design that predated the 94, my guns were actually made after things had settled down, considerably.
So, I started looking further back. I never liked the 76 and I think that is what threw my eye off of 73s. When I began to discern the difference, I started liking the 73. And the 66. And the Henry. And you know what? I’ve come back to the 94, also, at least aesthetically. The receiver on the 76 has always been too bulky for me, and the 92 receiver looks too short and stubby. But all the rest are great, OBFMCB.
As I ramble on, I ask myself, what is the take-away for me? In the end, I think it is important that we all have tons of Winchesters on our walls. Of all kinds. That way, when little boys happen into the room, they can stumble around, drooling, and trying to settle on one perfect gun. Kicking them off on a lifetime of interest. Thank you Bud Sparks for your gas-station wall in Ft. Collins. I only wish I could have seen what you had hidden at home.
P.S. And old, and used, and brown/dark. 
Kevin, In 1973 I bought my first Winchester lever action, a model 1873. It still seems to be the most attractive model to my mind. I tend to concentrate my main attention on the 1873 and the big brother, model 1876. Having said that, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the 1895. Why? I do not know. Maybe because it is different. I do have good representative examples of the 1866, the 1886, the 1892 and the 1894 as well, because at one time I desired to have one of each. I haven’t invested in any of the latter models in some time now, concentrating on my main loves. Variety is nice to a point. Cogent reason has nothing to do with it. Tim
Like Bert, I started collecting the gun designs of John Browning. I already had a couple and I wanted guns I could shoot. After some time I progressed to all models. I still need an antique 1897 that is in collectable condition.
I usually obtain what ever catches my eye and in good condition .Now having said that, I do have 6 Model 64 rifles.The Model 64 Deer Rifles are my favourites and I do have a weakness for them.
Seems like I’ve acquired mostly Winchester .22 slide action rifles, but have some in bolt action, plus some high power rifles, shotguns, and handguns in assorted makes and actions. I guess I gravitated toward the kind of rifles that caught my eye as a kid. Had I become interested in acquiring older firearm’s at an early age, chances are that I would have focused on all original antique Winchester rifles that I seem to like most of all nowadays, but don’t own…that is old lever action type rifles, plus the 1885, although I do have a few carbines, and unique antiques like the Whitney-Kennedy and the Remington-Keene. So, most of what I own is general in nature. It’s been fun, with a big part of that being the memories that I have of people I’ve met along the way.
James
Well Kevin I actually started out collecting Marlins back in the late ’60’s and managed to gather up quite a nice bunch of them> I run into some financial difficulties in the early ’80’s, Thanks to the Hunt Bros., and sold off the collection in order to keep the house and family together. I bought a small collection of Winchester Commemmoratives ,17 pieces , a little later and ended up putting together one complete Winchester mfg’d, commemmorative and two other partial commemmorative collections,450 pieces all together, I ended up selling them all to one person( that was a big cheque). Then I started buying ’94’s and put together a collection , one from each year of manufacture, 113 pieces, from 1894, ser#601 to 2006 ser#6554000. Then I put together a collection of all the pre1900 lever guns in deluxe rifle and s.r.c. from the Henry to the 1895. currently I’m working on building a display including all the pre 1900 lever guns in standard configuration in carbine rifle and musket, it’s proving to be quite a task but I do enjoy the hunt. I’ve had and still have some pretty rare (1 of a kind) ’94’s but My all time favorite is a 14″ or 15″ trapper . I just love them little guns and the way they fit the hand to carry. Seven years ago I had 1450 some Winchesters and Colts but I started selling some off for retirement I would like to own ’em all lol, but probably won’t accomplish that aim lol.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
I tend to have a list of favourite cartridges and then choose the old Winchester to match those cartridges. After 15 years of buying, selling, and trading I eventually saw that there were certain models and configurations that I strongly liked over the others, so I matched the cartridges as follows …
45-70 – Winchester Model 1886 FM, OB, CB (shipped in 1891)
44 W.C.F. – Winchester Model 1892 SRC (currently, but I like this cartridge so much that if I come across a nice 1892 in a rifle version, which is not easy up here in Canada, I’d like to snap it up) (serialized in 1913)
38-55 – Winchester Model 1894 FM, OB, CB (Shipped in 1904)
38-40 – I’m looking for a nice 85% Winchester Model 1892 FM, OB, CB (currently filling in for this caliber is a M****n Model 1889 FM, OB, CB shipped in 1889)
32-20 – Winchester Model 53 (serialized in 1929)
30 W.C.F. – Winchester Model 1894 SRC (serialized in 1913)
There are several other cartridges that I really like, but the above are the highest ranking. If I had my druthers, and a large budget, I’d have Winchesters to match the 45-60, 40-72, and 38-56
Henry Mero said
I would like to own ’em all lol, but probably won’t accomplish that aim lol.
I don’t know . . . seems like you are well on your way!
November 7, 2015
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I honestly don’t have a good answer for you, Kevin. Like others around here I’m very much a fan of JMB and my centerfire collection reflects that with an apparent focus on the 1894 with representative pieces of the 1885, 1886, 1892 and 1895 to round things out. I also have an 1873 just because and if I could justify an 1866 or an 1876 I’d make room for them as well. I used, qualified with and occasionally competed with Winchester riot guns derived from the Model 12 in my LE days. Today my shotgunning involves clay birds so naturally a couple of Model 12 Trap guns have followed me home. Somehow a sawed-off 1897 found it’s way into my collection. It’s fun to shoot and was quite the adventure for this kitchen table gunsmith.
My rimfire collection is a whole ‘nuther matter. It’s not focused on any particular model, designer or action type but anything with a receiver sight will catch my presbyopic eye. Through my rimfire adventure I’ve learned more about the other inventors and engineers Winchester called “mechanics”. I’ve gathered one or two examples of the rimfire models that interest me even though that seems to be almost every Winchester rimfire I encounter.
It appears my centerfire collection is somewhat focused and my rimfire collection is somewhat general. One could argue that my entire collection lacks focus but I’m working on it. And so far it’s been a very enjoyable learning experience.
Mike
My collection is focused, I like the early toggle link models. I currently have Models 1873 and 1876 in my collection. Have never owned a Henry, only had one 1866 early in my collecting days. For now, concentrating on the 1876, the least produced of the early Winchester lever rifles.
The late William B. Ruger once remarked that the Model 1876 was just “a piece of wood and steel.” Pausing, he added “But, it’s a damn elegant piece of wood and steel.” Works for me, your mileage may vary.
I call myself a collector as it sounds better than hoarder
November 5, 2014
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Hi Kevin-
As my signature field suggests, my interest is pre-64 M70s. The collection is highly focused for several reasons:
1. M70s have enough diversity in styles and/or chamberings and/or period specific changes to make them interesting to me. They also had the Jack O’Connor/Outdoor Life appeal to a kid dreaming of someday hunting big game in rugged places. While I’m about the right age, I never grew up watching TV westerns so I missed out on the romantic appeal of the lever guns.
2. I have a deep OCD streak (bordering on pathologic 
). I’m only happy if a collection is “complete” according to some criteria or other. When I was a kid I collected Lincoln head pennies b/c they would go into a nice coin book that had empty slots and the collection was only complete when all the slots were filled. When I first started collecting M70s (40+ years ago) the goal was to get at least one of every style. Then it was to have one of every cataloged chambering. Then I got really silly and decided to build a collection the way Rule’s was described in Appendix 1 of his book. That was to assemble the MINIMUM number of rifles that included: 1) every style; 2) every chambering; 3) every common caliber designation; 4) every action variation; 5) every barrel contour; 6) every stock style. If you do the math, that’s EXACTLY 24 rifles (23 caliber designations + you have to have two rifles marked 264 WIN MAGNUM to include the Westerner and FWT-Westerner styles). That feat took a more couple decades (and involved buying a lot more than 24 guns before getting a combination that would work). The current goal is to get all 29 “configurations” as Rule defined them. I “only” have 27/29 so it’s still a work in progress.
3. My Dad was interested in M70s so it was something for us to talk about. Besides, after he retired he obtained an FFL and enjoyed tracking down less common guns via Shotgun News, so he would find stuff for me when I had limited time to search due to the demands of my job.
4. I could afford them. As you can imagine, my OCD streak compelled me to gather up a pretty large number of individual guns. No way I could even come close to satisfying my collecting instincts with any of the lever action models. Even if I could define “complete” I couldn’t afford it. OTOH even now, there are only a few M70s that sell for >$10K (and most for sale at that price aren’t worth the money).
So that’s my sad story… 
I feel like I’m the epitome of the old joke defining a “specialist” as someone who “knows more and more about less and less until they know absolutely everything about nothing”!!!
Cheers,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Lou,
Your wretchedly sad story elicited an evil maniacal chuckle from me… I almost fell for it !!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
My very modest collection is a collection of Winchester from my early days working in as a clerk in training for the HBC, my time flying PBY’s in the far north through my 30 year career as a Conservation Officer in Ontario. Every gun, except the two most recent, I own has a story and a memory of a place, person or time that is very vivid in my memory when I handle that particular gun. As a example I have a 1892 carbine that I bought from a young native fellow that put me up in a tent when i was stranded on the coast of James Bay after the Bombardier Snow Bus I was in fell through the ice. In the tent was the Model 1892. I bought it from the owner for $40 just before I was rescued. I am not a collector but more of a souvenir collector. None of my Winchesters are very valuable either but to me they are priceless.
I was always told “never collect anything.” But I don’t like being told what to do, so I decided not to follow that advice. That said, I don’t have any rhyme or reason to my collection (which isn’t very large.) For whatever reason, I love the pre-64 Model 94s and 70s. (I only own a 70 in 308 and should soon have one in 270.)
I’ve always loved the 94 because that’s what I shot my first deer with and I think it’s the perfect deer rifle for my state (Missouri). I love everything about the 94. It just looks “right” to me and it feels so well balanced in my hands.
My strategy going forward is to just occasionally buy something when I can find a good deal. (Again, probably limited to pre-64 94s and 70s.)
November 5, 2014
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Bert H. said
Lou,
Your wretchedly sad story elicited an evil maniacal chuckle from me… I almost fell for it !!
Bert
Hi Bert-
I’ve just gotta’ respond to your expression of sympathy for my “wretchedly sad” sad story… 
The other half of the joke (which is a “doctor joke”… although it applies broadly) is the definition of a “generalist” as someone who knows less and less about more and more until they know absolutely nothing about everything…
YOU seem to want to buck the trend (neither specialist nor generalist) and know everything about everything!!! At least everything designed by JMB… At least NONE of us who come to the WACA site are happy knowing nothing about nothing…
Kudos…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 7, 2015
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This thread reminds me of how varied our interests are. Good example is the threads about the Model 70. Fascinating subject even though I have no interest in collecting them. Cartridge boxes and reloading tools are other areas I’ll never personally explore but the knowledge available here is very impressive. There’s a point in here somewhere; it’s that unless we have unlimited finances it’s likely that all of our collections are at least somewhat focused. Best part is that interests vary so there’s always something to learn here, even if we don’t choose to collect everything that interests us.
Mike
Louis Luttrell said
Hi Bert-
I’ve just gotta’ respond to your expression of sympathy for my “wretchedly sad” sad story…
YOU seem to want to buck the trend (neither specialist nor generalist) and know everything about everything!!! At least everything designed by JMB… At least NONE of us who come to the WACA site are happy knowing nothing about nothing…
Kudos…
Lou
Lou,
I just knew that you could not (or would) not just let the old sleeping dog lie…
In all seriousness, we share the OCD trait.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Striving for perfection is not a disorder. Labeling it as one is settling for mediocrity. JMHO, of course. I’m not a doctor and I don’t play one on the internet. In my business a missed detail is a problem. Same thing with collectible Winchesters. I like to think my version of OCD is a minor one. 😉
Mike
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