I don't have much use for lever action rifles and the only one I have is a Uberti 1873 deluxe sporting rifle in .45 Colt to go with my Colt single actions. But I did apply the same reasoning to my latest Colt purchase, a second generation 4 3/4" .45 Colt. It has the best fit and finish and the most precise timing and lock up of all my Colts. It also shoots exactly to point of aim for me. It was an unfired in the display case NRA Centenial that I picked up for $1500. I pulled the hideous wood grips and slapped on a set of perfectly fitting stags that I had laying around.
If considering buying a worn Model 94 Winchester, what about a NIB commemorative?
- Thread starter MelvinWalker
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Thanks and this is OP here....I think you get what I am saying about fit and function versus grandpa's old overpriced junk that is for sale everywhere.
I think many in this thread misunderstand what the original point to the thread and that is this....A junky, worn, nothing-special, post-64 1976 Winchester 94 with poor condition wood and worn and freckled receiver from being left in the rain or truck or whatever is now pusing $700-$900 which is probably at least $300 too much for an old abused gun from the 70's...They were nothing special to write home about even when new, except for the old west nostalgia, ease of ammunition at every corner store and The Rifleman playing on black and white re-runs avery afternoon.
Most if not all of these commemoratives were the same exact rifle, but just a little better fitted, with better wood and most stayed new in the box because Gramps thought it would be worth a fortune later and it wasn't.
Fast forward to now and those same new in the box fancy 94's are bringing hundreds of dollars less than their bland $125 K-Mart cousins.
if you are looking to buy a shooter anyway, why buy an overpriced worn out Model 94 when you can get a time capsule new in the box fancy model that has never been shot for far less?
Case in point is the 1978 Antlered game commemorative that I showed. It has sharp XTR wood, never been fired and still has hang tag...It still has no bid and will go for less than a worn out one with a scratched up maple stock and bluing all flaked off the receiver.
Exactly. It’s a good way to get a basically new condition Model 94 for comparatively little money.
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Given the success of the Canadian Centennial rifles, Winchester tried marketing an upscale model 94 rifle, cataloging the Winchester 94 Classic. It had a 26” octagon barrel, very nice wood, machine scrolling on the receiver and a gold plated loading gate. That loading gate and the engraved “Model 94 Winchester Classic” on the barrel often results in it being mis identified as a commemorative. Ironically, they only sold about 40,000 of them over 6 years, 4 as a cataloged item and 2 more years before they finally sold them all. So it’s less common than six commemorative Model 94s and two more commemoratives come very close to it in numbers made.
Wyatt Burp
Member
I really like the shotgun butt as opposed to the curved type that doesn’t seem to be exactly like the old original crescent butt shape.Exactly. It’s a good way to get a basically new condition Model 94 for comparatively little money.
——
Given the success of the Canadian Centennial rifles, Winchester tried marketing an upscale model 94 rifle, cataloging the Winchester 94 Classic. It had a 26” octagon barrel, very nice wood, machine scrolling on the receiver and a gold plated loading gate. That loading gate and the engraved “Model 94 Winchester Classic” on the barrel often results in it being mis identified as a commemorative. Ironically, they only sold about 40,000 of them over 6 years, 4 as a cataloged item and 2 more years before they finally sold them all. So it’s less common than six commemorative Model 94s and two more commemoratives come very close to it in numbers made.
Picked up a glitzy 29-3 a year or so ago, NIB as is the usual condition for a commemorative. Paid less than the SWCA said as standard NIB one would go for. Its a good shooter.
I have the Ted Williams model from Sears. It's drilled and tapped fr the side mount scope off to the left. It has everything for that but the scope. Coincidentally, my son's friend is looking for a Model 94. HMMMM! So I sent John my pictures, description, etc. John said he only has $600 to spend! Bad move on his part. Told my son I'll take $300 from him and he can get any leftover. On top, I have about 60 30-30 cartridges that I won't be needing. I was going to throw them in with the sale, but now they will be extra...for me! I hope the dude doesn't read this thread!
OP, buy a nice one and shoot it.
I don't do a lot of rifle shooting anymore, and I had a Model 94 Classic that I never shot so it got sold. Only got about $600 for it here on the forum.
Also had a post 64 Model 94 that was my first rifle. Son has it now thru convoluted means. Seems I spent $75 of my 1976 paycheck on that gun and went home without grocery money for the week. A year later, when I bought my 760, young Mrs Raljr1 says, you don't need two rifles, so sell the old one.
(HAHA)
My dad bought it and gave it to my younger brother. I tried for a dozen years to buy it back, no dice. Fast forward, my son is 12 and wants to hunt, so brother loans him the 30-30. He uses it for a year or two, Brother still won't sell, so I start looking for a gun. I find a Savage bolt action 30-30. Great gun for kids, safer than the 30-30. Take it home, son says, Ï don't like that one, I like the model 94."I say, "Tough, this one is yours, that one isnt."
So a few weeks later I relate the 'story to my brother. He says, "Bolt action 30-30, I'll trade ya." So Son ends up with my first rifle and still has it.
Of course the $150 I paid for the Savage was less than half of what I offered my brother to buy back the 94.
I don't do a lot of rifle shooting anymore, and I had a Model 94 Classic that I never shot so it got sold. Only got about $600 for it here on the forum.
Also had a post 64 Model 94 that was my first rifle. Son has it now thru convoluted means. Seems I spent $75 of my 1976 paycheck on that gun and went home without grocery money for the week. A year later, when I bought my 760, young Mrs Raljr1 says, you don't need two rifles, so sell the old one.
(HAHA)
My dad bought it and gave it to my younger brother. I tried for a dozen years to buy it back, no dice. Fast forward, my son is 12 and wants to hunt, so brother loans him the 30-30. He uses it for a year or two, Brother still won't sell, so I start looking for a gun. I find a Savage bolt action 30-30. Great gun for kids, safer than the 30-30. Take it home, son says, Ï don't like that one, I like the model 94."I say, "Tough, this one is yours, that one isnt."
So a few weeks later I relate the 'story to my brother. He says, "Bolt action 30-30, I'll trade ya." So Son ends up with my first rifle and still has it.
Of course the $150 I paid for the Savage was less than half of what I offered my brother to buy back the 94.
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The worst Commemorative firearm I ever saw the "Tribute to Valor" (WWII) "Victory" model offered by the "American Historical Foundation" back in 1989. It wasn't even a Smith & Wesson revolver; it was a Taurus Model 80. The revolver sold for $795 (a LOT of money 35 years ago!) plus an exhorbitant amount of $175 for the display case for a total of $970. IMHO it was hideous. The last one I saw auctioned a few years back went for $150. I wonder how many old WWII veterans bought, or their unsuspecting families bought for them. It about made me sick.
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Reading through these threads makes me realize that prices are still affected by location, even with the internet.
Just in the past few months I've seen three very nice pre model 94s priced in the $650 to $750 range. All 30-30s. The 650 dollar rifle was/is sitting in a gun shop in Sunbury, Pa. It sports a receiver peep and has QD swivels mounted. The other two sold in the mid 700 dollar range at an auction. Both were pristine, unaltered rifles.
But I've also seen very worn, overpriced guns sitting in shops and at gun shows tagged at $800+.
Around here, commemorative are selling in the $500-$900 range. More for high condition guns with original box, paper work and etc.
So my take on the OPs query is to take a little time and get a nice standard rifle. But I realize that I live in a Winchester rich area that has an aging gun owner population, an ideal combo for finding estate sales and full racks of used guns at the local shops. Most of my own collection will be headed that way within the next decade or so.
I've never been one for painted ladies or glittering do-dads.
John
Just in the past few months I've seen three very nice pre model 94s priced in the $650 to $750 range. All 30-30s. The 650 dollar rifle was/is sitting in a gun shop in Sunbury, Pa. It sports a receiver peep and has QD swivels mounted. The other two sold in the mid 700 dollar range at an auction. Both were pristine, unaltered rifles.
But I've also seen very worn, overpriced guns sitting in shops and at gun shows tagged at $800+.
Around here, commemorative are selling in the $500-$900 range. More for high condition guns with original box, paper work and etc.
So my take on the OPs query is to take a little time and get a nice standard rifle. But I realize that I live in a Winchester rich area that has an aging gun owner population, an ideal combo for finding estate sales and full racks of used guns at the local shops. Most of my own collection will be headed that way within the next decade or so.
I've never been one for painted ladies or glittering do-dads.
John
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About 30 years ago a good friends Dad passed away and left him every one of the Winchesters. IIRC took friend 25 years to sell them.
Well like I posted above they should have been based on the 1873 models to make them period correct at least. Realize that would probably would have been very expensive for Winchester to tool up to producing the 1873 models again.
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