Just read Winchester is coming out with highly embellished and engraved models of the 1866, 1873, 1894, and the Model 70 rifles to celebrate 150 years. Bit costly priced at over 3 grand for some of the models but thought members would like to see them. Link is Winchester Repeating Arms.
Winchester 150 Year Commerative Models
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OIF2
Member
Saw them at the SHOT Show. Very nice. Marlin/Remington had some pretty 336 rifles embellished by Dakota Arms (owned by Rem), too.
Bob
Bob
Orygun-fan
Member
My wife and I were watching The Rifleman tonight. His was an 1894 Winchester 44-40(googled it). Pretty cool. Modified to fire when lever operated. Tube fed magazine with 8-13 rounds depending on size of rounds. Quite the weapon.
smokindog
Member
Except I think the series is set in the 1870/80's 
okiegtrider
Member
Beautiful! Pricy, but gorgeous. 
35Rem
Member
Your Google is broken. It was an 1892 model. The 94 was for longer cartridges (30-30, 38-55, 32 Special, 25-35, etc)
Kind of high IMO for laser cut engraving . But that's the future of the trade it seems in order to keep prices 'reasonable'. Cookie cutter laser cut patterns don't give the customer anything unique for their money. I wouldn't buy one thinking it'd be a great investment.
It's a sharp looking rifle to do some engraving on though. I wonder who's actually making them? Imports or made in the USA, perhaps supplied by another maker. Henry Rifles in NJ has started to make the original style Henry in brass and steel frame.
A Winchester factory style checkering pattern wouldn't hurt the looks either as long as they were making a 'High Grade'. That's all done on laser guided machine cut equipment now too so once set up, cost isn't high at all per piece. Same for the engraving.
It used to be a hand cut master for the engraving was done, then the laser cut engraving was copied from that. I've done a couple for that process for a shotgun company. But that was 15 years ago,,they probably don't even need the hand cut master any more. Probably go right from a drawing.
JMHO
(I always thought McCains carbine was a '92. Never watched it closely enough to care I guess. He was a better baseball player anyway)
No 44cal in the '94 till some 44magnums were turned out in the late 60's. They had a bad habit of jamming on feeding.
It's a sharp looking rifle to do some engraving on though. I wonder who's actually making them? Imports or made in the USA, perhaps supplied by another maker. Henry Rifles in NJ has started to make the original style Henry in brass and steel frame.
A Winchester factory style checkering pattern wouldn't hurt the looks either as long as they were making a 'High Grade'. That's all done on laser guided machine cut equipment now too so once set up, cost isn't high at all per piece. Same for the engraving.
It used to be a hand cut master for the engraving was done, then the laser cut engraving was copied from that. I've done a couple for that process for a shotgun company. But that was 15 years ago,,they probably don't even need the hand cut master any more. Probably go right from a drawing.
JMHO
(I always thought McCains carbine was a '92. Never watched it closely enough to care I guess. He was a better baseball player anyway)
No 44cal in the '94 till some 44magnums were turned out in the late 60's. They had a bad habit of jamming on feeding.
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Speaking of period incorrect Winchesters used in the cowboy shows of our youth I will always remember Steve McQueens mares leg and the cartridges loaded in his belt. Read they were 45/70 rounds put in for visual effect!
Graywolf586
Member
jag312
Member
I sure do like the looks of the 1873, but my pocket isn't deep enough to afford one.
Watchdog
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I can't remember what it was called or who made it, but there used to be a little attachment doojiggy thing that attached to the lever on rifles. It made contact with the trigger when the lever was operated, causing it to fire each time. So you were sort of slam-firing a lever action rifle without your finger ever touching the trigger.
rburg
Member
Many of the Brownings and Winchesters were made by Mirako in Japan over recent years. My guess is the metal work was better than any thing Winchester was capable of over the last 50 years. The Brownings had their normal spectacular wood. If the factory contracted with anyone else, they'd die a horrible death if they didn't exceed the wood Browning used.
I've wondered for a long time how one factory, Browning, could constantly exceed the rest of the gun community in wood quality. Some of their standard stocks are better than the premium grade sold by others.
As for the 150 year examples on their web site, I had to stumble through their clunkly web site to even find the calibers offered. I had a little luck and discovered the M70 was a .270. No thanks. Never did find what they were offering in their 1885. After maybe a half hour I gave up and decided to just keep going to gun shows and looking at the old guns I like. Given the variability of the wood quality and the chances of the guns being an off-caliber, they defeated me. If Winchester wants to sell guns, they need to make it easier for us old guys. I'm not ordering a pig in a poke. And remember, us old guys are probably the market.
Now on the subject of commemoratives, The rule always was they were a loser and a lousy investment. At least when first offered. The trick was to buy them 5 or so years on, when they couldn't sell all they made or someone wanted to sell the ones he bought.
I've wondered for a long time how one factory, Browning, could constantly exceed the rest of the gun community in wood quality. Some of their standard stocks are better than the premium grade sold by others.
As for the 150 year examples on their web site, I had to stumble through their clunkly web site to even find the calibers offered. I had a little luck and discovered the M70 was a .270. No thanks. Never did find what they were offering in their 1885. After maybe a half hour I gave up and decided to just keep going to gun shows and looking at the old guns I like. Given the variability of the wood quality and the chances of the guns being an off-caliber, they defeated me. If Winchester wants to sell guns, they need to make it easier for us old guys. I'm not ordering a pig in a poke. And remember, us old guys are probably the market.
Now on the subject of commemoratives, The rule always was they were a loser and a lousy investment. At least when first offered. The trick was to buy them 5 or so years on, when they couldn't sell all they made or someone wanted to sell the ones he bought.
Dick, I believe it is Miroku.
No real American made Winchesters........Miroku copies......Good guns no doubt..........Back when the real Winchester was in business. They and Colt made more commemoratives than stars........They commemorated everything from dog poop to azalias. none are worth much today. Also Winchester kept cheapening the 94 till it was only a shell of the orignal design and it = junk.
I have extensive experience in Japan. I was there for about 2 hours in 1969, while they refueled the plane and put a new crew on board.
Texas Star
US Veteran
The M-70's will probably be made at their usual plant in SC.
I don't understand why Dick Burg hates the.270. I think it's a fine ctg., and certainly one that's added a lot to the Model 70's success.
I don't understand why Dick Burg hates the.270. I think it's a fine ctg., and certainly one that's added a lot to the Model 70's success.
rburg
Member
One of my first centerfire rifles was a .270, and it was lousy. It was a Rem ington 721 with a very poorly designed stock and a scope with no where near enough eye relief. I haven't looked in a while but for most of the last 50 years, I had a crescent between my eye brows where the scope bit me repeatedly. My father said I was crawling the stock and he attributed the poor accuracy to my lack of style. So we went shooting and while I couldn't laugh, my dad got scope bite, too. So I sold the rifle off and swore never to buy another.
The problem with the cartridge is that its marketed as a mountain rifle for hiking uphill and carrying it along. Most guns in the caliber are too light and tend to recoil a bit too much.
Then comes the issue of me refusing to add another caliber to my stable. I already have a gun or two that cover the same ground. From a 300 magnum down to a very nice 7mm maggie. If I see another gun in my current calibers, I consider it. If its a .270, I don't. If the new rifle
Winchester is trying to pander were a .30-06, I'd be considering it seriously. Winchester picked the caliber, and they picked one I'm not interested in buying. And if it were a .30-06, it'd better be a great one because I have 2 m70s in that caliber, first year production guns. If I stumbled upon a .300 H&H from the prewar, I'd be drooling. But I'd be gracious and step aside, letting you guys buy the .270s. I don't want them.
The problem with the cartridge is that its marketed as a mountain rifle for hiking uphill and carrying it along. Most guns in the caliber are too light and tend to recoil a bit too much.
Then comes the issue of me refusing to add another caliber to my stable. I already have a gun or two that cover the same ground. From a 300 magnum down to a very nice 7mm maggie. If I see another gun in my current calibers, I consider it. If its a .270, I don't. If the new rifle
Winchester is trying to pander were a .30-06, I'd be considering it seriously. Winchester picked the caliber, and they picked one I'm not interested in buying. And if it were a .30-06, it'd better be a great one because I have 2 m70s in that caliber, first year production guns. If I stumbled upon a .300 H&H from the prewar, I'd be drooling. But I'd be gracious and step aside, letting you guys buy the .270s. I don't want them.
The reason I don't like or own a .270. Had an uncle who shot a Remington 760 in .270.....He bragged & bragged on that gun(the only HP rifle he owned after giving up the 30/30). From his claims he could kill a deer or hit a target at MANY 100's of yards. His talk almost indicated that his .270 would kill/skin & wrap his deer by the time he got to it. Had him over one day........Set up a lead shielding brick(appox. 8"x4"x3 1/2" thick) for him to shoot............He shot it from about 20 ft......He figured he would blow it away........In reality the brick fell over in slow motion from it's original spot.......Blew an egg sized crater in the intrance side.....BUT didn't shoot through it....Took a little wind out of his sails!!!!!!!!!!..........AND THATS why I don't own or want a .270............Instead I picked the oddball 25 years ago .280 Remington in a Winchester FW mdl. 70........Still hunt with it.....Still like it.
"One of my first centerfire rifles was a .270, and it was lousy. It was a Rem ington 721 with a very poorly designed stock and a scope with no where near enough eye relief. "
Dang it, Dick. That is the rifle I have shot the last 50 or so deer and 100s of hogs with. Thanks for the heads up but now I have to find another rifle!
Ed
Dang it, Dick. That is the rifle I have shot the last 50 or so deer and 100s of hogs with. Thanks for the heads up but now I have to find another rifle!
Ed
rburg
Member
I didn't say you shouldn't buy one, I only said I wasn't going to and gave the reasons. On the subject of finding another rifle, I think its a good idea for anyone. Keep in mind I didn't specify the caliber for you, only for me.
