Shooting commemoratives

[Faulkner]

I'm wondering if many folks who own commemorative firearms ever shoot them. I only have one commemorative, a Winchester "Legendary Lawmen" Model 94 saddle ring carbine in .30-30 with 16 inch barrel. These were only made in 1977 and, as an LEO, when I first saw one in the 1990's I decided I really wanted one. I finally found one for sale that had never been fired. I didn't buy it for an investment, so after I hung on to it a few years I decided, heck, I want to shoot it.

Some years back I decided to sight it in and after just a few rounds I found the sights to be spot on a 100 yards. I have shot it a several more times and I've even taken it deer hunting a few times but haven't taken anything with it yet. It's a good looking rifle and I display it in my office from time to time, but I certainly don't mind shooting it.

 

[ken158]

If you are going to keep it and have no intention for selling for a profit, shooting a commemorative is fine. But, if you ever have thought of selling, only new in the box will bring a good price. There was a period in time when Winchester was putting out a commemorative for most anything they could think of… and they made lots of them. It was not unusual to see them for sale in big box stores.

 

[mauser9]

That's a nice one indeed. I would shoot it too as they often don't bring the big money buyers thought they would left unfired. Some Commemoratives go for more than others depending on which model and if they are more desirable. I would have been all over them if they would have been produced on the period correct 1873-1876 Winchesters. Enjoy it !

 

[sodacan]

Most commemoratives are marketing gimmicks for generating sales. There are certainly collectors who appreciate them, but any added value is negligible or nonexistent.

 

[biku324]

I shoot my Texas Sesquicentennial 544 and enjoy it. A 5" N frame in 44-40, unfired and 35 years old when I got it.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Not all, but many 94 Commemoratives book for less that standard 94's! Those are the least expensive way to get a 94.

The old Limited Production 1866's & 1873's had "1 of 100" and "1 of 1000" series'. I believe less than 10 of the 1/100s were actually made for each and less than 200 of the 1/1000s. They were a stock set of features and engraving, but only made to order (and paid for). It was probably close to the same price to have a custom order rifle made exactly the way you wanted.

In comparison, some of the 94 commemoratives had 20,000 made!

As they say: Anything for a buck!

Ivan

 

[bill-in-texas]

Shoot it!
That’s the best use for it
That’s a handsome lever action you’ve got there.

 

[Puller]

I did a quick search and it appears there were 19,999 Legendary Lawmen made by Winchester.

 

[NFrameFred]

I worked with a large number of people when Winchester first announced the "limited edition" John Wayne Model lever gun and signature special packaged ammunition. If memory serves, the deceptive gun rag advertising of the day made it sound as if there were (supposedly) only a finite number (3500 - 5000?) to be made and bunches of the guys jumped to order them. After they paid the premium price and received their rifles Winchester announced that they were 'so well received' that they would produce several thousand more (49,000 total, eventually) variations and deluxe versions included. Understandably, several of the folks that I knew that ordered the original were incensed that the collectors value of their white elephants evaporated.


I've seen several collector's displays of "commemorative" firearms and some where very impressive. Whatever floats your boat. My personal view has always been that if something with definite utility was produced to artificially make it 'collectible/commemorative' so somehow attaching a value to it that made it verboten to actually use it for its' basic intended design/purpose thus reducing its' value was a ludicrous proposition. If I wanted to have something just to look at I could put a high resolution picture on the wall. If I value it as a firearm I'm going to shoot it/use it if I put the money into it.


Different strokes for different folks . . . humans is da craziest peoples . . . (per Lew Leher)


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3gBZNuyXqk[/ame]

 

[D Brown]

I happened onto this at a local gun show almost two years ago. An unfired Winchester Big Bore 94 American Bald Eagle 1982 Silver Edition with no box. No problem, I bought it to shoot, and it has turned out to be excellent in that regard. Every load I've tried in it to date has exceeded my expectations. I posted these photos in another thread almost two years ago, so apologies for the redundancy.

 

[.357magger]

Shoot that puppy.

I think the Legendary Lawman is the only Winchester commemorative I'd like to own. So thanks for sharing it.

I always wondered though why Winchester didn't chamber that one in 357 Magnum? I think they would have sold more of them.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

I bought one of the Colt 1911 WW1 reproduction 1911s [can it be a reproduction if the company that made the original made it?] It’s certainly not a commemorative but it’s the closest thing I’ve got to a commemorative gun. I’ve shot it in several matches. Ran fine. I wanted a real WW1 1911 but their softer steel and expense made me choose the modern Colt repro.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I bought one of the Colt 1911 WW1 reproduction 1911s [can it be a reproduction if the company that made the original made it?] It’s certainly not a commemorative but it’s the closest thing I’ve got to a commemorative gun. I’ve shot it in several matches. Ran fine. I wanted a real WW1 1911 but their softer steel and expense made me choose the modern Colt repro.

The Colt guns that came out much later have one of two name that I know of.

For the 1911'ss it was a "Reissue", for the Walkers, Dragoons, and the like, it was "Continued Production" and used the same serial number sequence. However an 1847 manufactured Walker is worth far more than a 1970's built one, but both sell for more than reproductions!

Ivan

 

[Faulkner]

Shoot that puppy.

I think the Legendary Lawman is the only Winchester commemorative I'd like to own. So thanks for sharing it.

I always wondered though why Winchester didn't chamber that one in 357 Magnum? I think they would have sold more of them.

I agree about the .357. I actually have another Winchester 94 of the same size as the Legendary Lawmen that's chambered in .357 and I love the chambering in a 16 inch barreled lever gun. I'd bet they could have sold double the number in .357.

 

[sigp220.45]

I’ve got both FBI Commemoratives - the 27-3 and the Glock 22 - only sold to Agents and with FBI in the serial number. I shoot them both.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

My nephew has a roomful of commemmorative firearms that he never shoots. hundreds of them. Mostly Winchester. Mostly inherited. The gun room was custom built and is secure, environmentally controlled and most impressive. Being a man of leisure, he hunts and shoots sporting clays, but the guns he uses are in a separate safe in another room. The guns in the gun room are only for looking at.

 

[sipowicz]

I shoot my Bernard Goetz commemorative 38 all the time. I even use the sharpened screwdriver that came in the case for tasks around the house.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I shoot my Bernard Goetz commemorative 38 all the time. I even use the sharpened screwdriver that came in the case for tasks around the house.

Didn't that boxed set include 5 subway tokens also?

Ivan

 

[VaTom]

I have a Winchester 94 NRA Centennial Commemorative Rifle (1871-1971) that was passed to me from my Dad in 1992. He won it in some type of raffle. He never shot it and neither have I since I don't hunt and neither did he. Looks like the value of it is maybe $750 from on-line sources. Do have the box but no papers. A few years back a local older gentleman who had a specialized gun shop (collectables, antiques, etc.) offer me $500 for it but I passed.

I have a Colt WWII 1911A1 reproduction that I do shoot. Less than 3,000 made. I got it in 2008 for a low price as it has some small scratches on a section of the finish. I could probably get way more than what I paid for it since it is a Colt. I bought it to shoot rather than my 1943 Ithaca 1911A1.

 

[biku324]

I shoot my Bernard Goetz commemorative 38 all the time. I even use the sharpened screwdriver that came in the case for tasks around the house.

I'll bet that goetz expensive.