Let start by saying I don't have a good story to go along with this thread like "my Grandfather passed this down" or "look what I found a at a garage sale"
A friend called me and stated her brother has this gun and was looking to sell it but was getting a wide spread of the guns worth.
She wanted to know if I had any ideas of the value? Of course I told her I didn't but send me some photo's and I'd put out a request on the forum.
After I received the photos I was in awe.....
Looking on GB didn't really see any comparable guns with factory engraving.
So if any Winchester experts out there let me know what you think this gun should sell for? (I'm pretty sure it's way out of my league)

If there are others who have similar guns I'd like to see them as well.
My thoughts is for her brother to contact someone who specializes in these.
If anyone knows any contacts out there please PM info to me.

Much appreciated and thanks in advance for any and all info.

Masterbuck54

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I'm not the expert but would expect that rifle to be out of my price range by a very large amount.

I'll be watching this thread for the estimates with great interest.

Thank you for your photos of a very nice Winchester.

BLM

That is an outstanding rifle! To get the value you need to have a true expert look at it! Do not take some LGS opinion! Get on the Winchester sites and get multiple opinions on it. It is a high value gun, it would do well in the right auction with the right bidders.

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

If what you have is what it appears to be. Then you are looking at a five figure gun. Where exactly it will end up in those five figures is subject to a lot of things, but it is there.

As stated, I collect the old model ninety fours.

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I know the last Winchester 1894 rifle I saw locally was about $1,400 but that was a plain full length octagon barrel. Yours has what appears to be deluxe wood, a fair amount of engraving, the rare grip cap. I agree you're looking at a 5 figure gun. You would do well to try and get some documentation through the Cody Center in Wyoming because if you can document that all that work was done by Winchester that only increases the value.

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Vaya con Dios

Looks like an Angelo Stokes engraving job. JMO of course, but the scroll pattern style especially on the sides looks like his. It was kind of different from the other engravers working there at the time.
Rarely if ever did they sign their work when working for the W factory (common in the industry at the time),but a few did sneak in a signiture here and there.

The rcv'd at warehouse & ship date is the same so most likely a special order for somebody and that's not a hard guess.

That Winchester proof mark oval/P was just coming into use especially on the 1894 at the time this one was made (June,1905).
They went forward of the engraving on the bbl but placed it right into the engraving on the frame. The latter not uncommon on engraved Winchesters.

Unless I'm not seeing well again,,the letter doesn't mention the rifle as being a TD. That would seem like a big error or missed feature, but in reality many things were not listed in the handwritten log that the Historical Letters are drawn from.
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Beautiful rifle!,,I hope the owner either keeps it,or sells and gets all that it's worth.

That beautiful old Winchester certainly has 5 digit potential, especially if sold through one of the higher end auction houses that allow Internet and phone bids. They may charge a sellers premium but it usually well worth it. A little research on Find Live & Online Auctions for Antiques, Art, Cars & More at AuctionZip.com may help you find a place in your area to fill the bill.

Some auction houses will post results of past sales on their web sites. By way of example, one such place here in Pa is Morphy's, located in south eastern Pa. They devote several of their auctions each year to firearms and related items and always have results posted within a week of the sale end. Take a look at Past Antiques Auction Results | Morphy Auctions
and browse through the past results and you may find some similar Winchesters listed.
I wish you friend good luck. He certainly has something special there.

John

I'm no expert either, but wow! Extras on it besides engraving is a pistol grip, grip cap, and take down feature. Add that up and I think it's worth whatever astronomical figure people would bid on it. It's beautiful.

Beautiful indeed!! Special auction is the way to go. Let us know how much it sells for.

While looking through R.L. Wilson's book on Winchester it is very apparent that Winchester was not shy about engraving guns.

In the book is an 1892 with the same engraving calling it an inexpensively engraved model.

The style is No. 6 and for the 1892 cost $25.00 penciled in is the notation $28.65.

They considered this style an attractive finish at a moderate price.

Never thought much about engraved guns but this one sure works for me.

BLM

Auction sales prices (from name gun auction houses) for comparable rifles would be the only way to get a reasonable idea of value. Good information like that is not so easily found. I'd agree with 5 digits, but which leading digits I would have no idea.

Wow that's a beautiful gun

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Cory
SWCA #3015 SWHF #465

What a beautiful rifle. Take down deluxe with factory engraving. Local antique GS out here sold one similar with a Cody letter for $40,000+. Wouldn't say the actual amount. Get a Cody letter and several opinions before allowing any transaction.

His first pic shows a portion of the Cody Museum letter.

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Been up since before breakfast

Wow, someone is about to have their Antique Roadshow moment.

A deluxe, takedown, engraved Winchester Model 94 in very good condition would go for some big bucks in the right auction.

It doesn't surprise me they are getting a wide range when it comes to value. This type of gun is rare enough that they don't trade on the market every day; so, setting a value can be difficult even for experts without the gun in hand.

I would take look at closed sales at auction houses like James Julia and Rock Island. Be aware that when talking about these types of guns a small difference in condition like going from 95 to 98% can make thousands of dollars in difference in final hammer price. Also, when it comes to auctions remember there is a commission to pay. It looks like it has an ivory bead which if you go with Julia's at auction there will be extra cost in getting the ivory authenticated as antique.

If they sell let us know what it brought.

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Bill Bates

Let me start by saying thanks for the information provided.
I actually talked to the sister to find out any more details of how her brother acquired this fine example.
She said her father was a mechanic back in the day and he took the rifle in on work preformed.
She couldn't remember when that would have been and her father passed 15 years or so.
Her brother inherited it at that time and it's been wrapped in a blanket ever since...probably under a bed
I forwarded her brother all of the posts offering the best places to go or find values should he sell.
He replied back that he was going to keep the rifle for now but was going to invest in some good insurance for it.

Should he decide to sell it later I'll update this thread of the results.

Masterbuck54

Spoke with the sister and they put the rifle in a auction that ended this past weekend.

Sold for $20,000...she and her brother are going to use some of the funds for a vacation.

Masterbuck54

Not too surprising. Back when this thread started, I was thinking something in the $20K neighborhood was likely, but without any basis.