Valuing old Winchester Rifles

[Dashriprock]

Anyone know about valuing old Winchesters?

From what I can find the lever gun is a third-model Model 1873 in .44-40. Serial number is 187XXXB which dates it to 1885 manufacture according to online sources. Has a 24-inch full octagonal barrel, so would be a Sporting model. Functions perfectly, bore shows some minimal pitting though rifling is pretty good and evident for length of bore. Has a four-piece cleaning rod in the butt.

Pump action rifle is a Model 1906. Nickel plated. Serial is 784XXX. Serials ended far lower than that when production ended in 1932. The explanations I’ve been able to find say that Winchester had a bunch of old parts laying around and put a run together in the late 1930s. Reckon this must be from that production run.

I’m trying to ascertain values on these for a coworker who inherited them so she can realize proper sale prices. Thanks very much for any assistance and guidance provided!

 

[Valmet]

Try the folks over at RimfireCentral forum for the 1890.

 

[Wyo]

I was at the Winchester Collectors’ show in Cody last week and I would say that 1873 rifle would have been priced at $4,000-$5,000 there, at least. Prices at that show were very, very high!

 

[mauser9]

Wow that 1873 is a real gem indeed. Am in the northeast where prices would be lower than Wyo quoted but still up there in price these days.

 

[DWalt]

Regarding your 06, by far the best information source is Ned Schwing's book, Winchester Slide Action Rifles. It is out of print, and copies sell for a princely sum, but the highly detailed information contained is worth it. Regarding SN 784xxx, I quote "Between serial numbers 736,468 and approximately 854,000, Model 06s and Model 90s were mixed together, the majority built being 06s." Serial numbers were shared after 1926. No 06s are known to have SNs in the range 686,000 to 736,468. That range was reserved for 90s. Model 06 receivers were not assembled in serial number order. It was possible that 06 receivers could remain in parts bins for months to years. Schwing shows one chart indicating that 06 receivers continued to be made in small numbers until 1934. But he does not provide exact SNs and dates for receivers made after 1926. Schwing also says that 06s were sold through 1936. Probably many of the rifle sales made that late were assembled from older parts remaining in factory inventory.

About the only thing that can be said regarding Model 06 having SN 784xxx is that the receiver was probably made in 1927 or shortly thereafter.

 

[DWalt]

Tomorrow I will look in Schwing to see about the existence of nickeled 06s. It is too late tonight. I also believe that a nickeled finish from the factory is unlikely. $500 might be optimistic, but I have no feel for the current 06 market.

I once long ago owned an 06, fairly shabby condition with little remaining finish, but it worked. Had a 90 also. Both are long gone.

 

[jc2721]

You could try looking for the actual sale prices for similar rifles on the popular auction sites to get a real-market idea of what similar guns have sold for in the recent past. You may also get an idea of which vendors she might like to deal with by checking out their feedback and seeing how they promote their consignments.

I think that for a non-enthusiast, consigning collectible guns to a reputable internet dealer is probably the best way to maximize the sale of unwanted guns. Full disclosure--I have absolutely no financial interest in any online dealers or vendors and my advice is worth exactly what you've paid for it, lol.

 

[Dashriprock]

Thanks very much for the input!

I've tried cross referencing on various auction prices realized, which has been helpful.

All the info I can find on the 06 is that nickel was a factory option, but I wonder why anyone would order just that without other options.

I'll post up some more photos this afternoon.

 

[444 Magnum]

Nickel plating was very popular back in the day. With the stock having been sanded and refinished, my guess would be the entire rifle was probably done. Look closely at it and see if there are any rust pits or scratches that have been plated over.

 

[DWalt]

Nickel plating was very popular back in the day. With the stock having been sanded and refinished, my guess would be the entire rifle was probably done. Look closely at it and see if there are any rust pits or scratches that have been plated over.

Schwing's book discusses in some detail several different bluing methods used by Winchester for the 06 during its production lifespan, but makes no mention of Nickel plating of standard models. That would indicate a very high probability that a Nickel plated 06 did not come from the factory that way. I suppose that it is at least possible that Winchester could have had your rifle plated as a special order, but that makes very little sense for a low-end low-priced rifle. My opinion is that plating on a standard 06 is extremely likely to be aftermarket, and was done by one of its previous owners. That would have a very significant negative effect upon its value.
However, Winchester did offer an "Expert grade" 06 which was available with half or full Nickel plating, although most (90+%) Expert grade rifles were blued. These Expert rifles were made in small numbers (around 10,000 in total, and only from 1919-23) within the SN range of 525,000 through 650,000, and are readily identified by other prominent features such as a barrel inscription, tang marking, and a unique slide handle shape and pistol grip stock.

 

[moralem]

I have serial number 178936 1873 saddle ring carbine that dates to 1885. It is well worn and would estimate its value at 1000-1200. I believe the sporting rifle like yours would bring 1300-1500.

My sporting rifle from 1885 is off being restored and I acquired it for 1400. Probably overpaid a bit based on its condition but I needed it to go along with the SRC that will head off for restoration as soon as the sporting rifle comes back. Top two are of the SRC and bottom two of the rifle.


.

 

[dave1918a2]

Up here I would peg the 1873 at $2K- 2.5K for a quick sale. The 1906 at $750 tops.

 

[2152hq]

The nickel plated Model 1906 doesn't fit the Winchester factory description of their Expert Grade Model 1906 which was available in both Half Nickel and Full Nickel plate finish.
DWalt makes reference to this above along with ser# range and stock style.

As far as being a spec order plating job on a standard Model 1906, I would look at the Winchester Proof Mark stamping on both the Bbl and the frame.

If those stamps look like they are plated over, then it's deffinetly an aftermarket plating job.

When done by the factory, the final finsh, wether Bluing or Plating is done, and the completed firearm is sent to the Range for proof firing and function testing.
If passed, it is then that the WP proof marks are stamped into the bbl and recv'r,,right thru the existing finish.
This is standard for any firearms mfg'r. and an easy way to spot an aftermarket refinish as those orig done will 'blister' or slightly break the finish on the surface.

Refinished over, the markings are usually slightly rounded from even careful polishing and the bluing or plating covers any of that upset surface finish that was done when orig stamped.

I'd guess the 73 would sell for around $1500 and the 1906 for $400 here in the NE. I'm assuming the 1906 is aftermarket plated.
Reality prices, though they would be listed/tagged for much more.