Winchester commemorative 1979 1-1000 set for sale|Winchester Swap Meet|Forum|Winchester Collector

Personally I’m just not a commemorative guy, I’d put my money on a different horse in the race, just my humble opinion.

It’s a tough job but somebody has to get it done.  Unfortunately,  as with many things, you either wear out before you go broke or vice versa. 

I’m just more of a Pre-64 type of collector and would imagine Bert is as well.

And I’d rather try to find a nice pre-64 Winchester for $6,500.00, which is also becoming a harder task as each day passes.

But hey! Each their own. 

Sincerely,

Maverick

P.S. I also collect Reloading Tools and I think me along with the other five guys out there that do as well, we have the market cornered! Just not enough to go around.

TR said
  I like the feel of a hundred year old Winchester, made by American craftsmen the hard way. Tough guns made to be shot. Commemorative are made to look at. Many are not an original copy, the markings and engraving are custom done by machines. The action does not feel right, don’t move the action it will decrease it’s value. If you use them the value goes down. If it’s not in the original box the value goes down. 
 I will continue to collect Winchesters made by Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven, Conn. U.S.A. and leave the commemorative firearms to others. I understand the commemorative market and value but it’s just not for me. To each his own. T/R
  

Fair enough, but to be clear the Winchesters in this thread were not engraved by machine and were made by the same Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven, Conn. U.S.A. you wish to buy from😉 They are quality firearms and just like the Pre 64 collectors no one cares if it has been fired. We all care if they have been abused. The value of both the Commemoratives and Pre64’s goes up or down based upon the condition. Show me an 1894 from 1895 with 90% blue vs 10% blue left and watch the value swing by a wide margin. You are correct on the Commemoratives, the boxes are part of the value but that is by design. However, if you are honest how much more would the value of that model 1894 mfg in 1895 be if it came with an original box and papers? I would wager more than any Commemorative box brings by a large margin 😀 Finally my friend, many of the Commemoratives were hand engraved by the very famous Cesare Giovanelli. Even better, how about one of our own “Pauline Muerrle” who hand engraved the very famous commemorative the “Ties that bind”! An incredible 1 of 14 beauty! I’ve attached a picture of the Constitution Giovanelli engraved and it is stunning. She is a 1 of 17 and each one has a specific state on it, so one might say it is really a 1 of 1 as each are thus unique! I’m just not sure I can believe anyone wouldn’t want that beauty in their collection but as you said to each their own! I find joy in all of them and a few Colts! 

Buck1967 said

Fair enough, but to be clear the Winchesters in this thread were not engraved by machine and were made by the same Winchester Repeating Arms Co. New Haven, Conn. U.S.A. you wish to buy from😉 They are quality firearms and just like the Pre 64 collectors no one cares if it has been fired. We all care if they have been abused. The value of both the Commemoratives and Pre64’s goes up or down based upon the condition. Show me an 1894 from 1895 with 90% blue vs 10% blue left and watch the value swing by a wide margin. You are correct on the Commemoratives, the boxes are part of the value but that is by design. However, if you are honest how much more would the value of that model 1894 mfg in 1895 be if it came with an original box and papers? I would wager more than any Commemorative box brings by a large margin 😀 Finally my friend, many of the Commemoratives were hand engraved by the very famous Cesare Giovanelli. Even better, how about one of our own “Pauline Muerrle” who hand engraved the very famous commemorative the “Ties that bind”! An incredible 1 of 14 beauty! I’ve attached a picture of the Constitution Giovanelli engraved and it is stunning. She is a 1 of 17 and each one has a specific state on it, so one might say it is really a 1 of 1 as each are thus unique! I’m just not sure I can believe anyone wouldn’t want that beauty in their collection but as you said to each their own! I find joy in all of them and a few Colts! 

  

I’ve never seen one of those Constitution ones in your picture above come up for sale….would like to see one!

Although not my cup of tea, I am learning interesting things on this thread.  I can see now that not all Winchester Commemoratives are cut from the same cloth.  That Constitution one is something

Henry,  let me ask.your opinion on something I’ve often wondered about. 

As we all.know and I experienced personally when I picked one up ar Oshman’s in 1965,  the “original” post-64 Winchester Model.94 was considerably cheapened, at least cosmetically. 

However, I never handled or closely examined s 1966 Civil.War Centennial rifle or short rifle- the yellow plated receiver guns with octagonal barrels. 

Nor had I really paid much.attention to new production Model 94s until.sometime in the Nineties, when, after a range session with my old pal who had one, I bought a new 16″ trapper Model 94 in caliber 44 magnum. By this time, of course, USRAC had made it in New Haven and it was an angle eject gun. Nevertheless, the build and finish quality was way up from 1965 and functionally as good and solid as the 1955 shortwood carbine I had in my locker. 

My question to you, Henry, is whether the underlying build quality of the Commemoratives followed the same path as the ordinary field grade production 94s – or were they spared the indignity?