1894 Golden Spike

myusername

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I don't know a lot about lever actions, but I picked up a never fired in box 1894 Golden Spike Winchester for $500 awhile back. I bought it to use for an "over the hearth" display gun for the den.

I happened to be on Bud's tonight looking at guns and noticed new 1894 Winchesters are running $1,000. Mine was made in 1969. $500 seems to be about average for the Golden Spike.

Is there some reason the new guns cost more than this one? Frankly I'm wondering if I should maybe just use this gun for deer hunting. It sure would make a purdy deer rifle, until it got scratched up. But for the price of a new lever action I'm thinking maybe I should just go ahead and shoot this one rather than buy a hunting gun.

Any suggestions or opinions? Thanks.
 
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The Golden Spike is a gussied-up post-64 Winchester, and a tad gaudy for most hunting.

The "new" Winchester leverguns are made in Japan by Miroku, and exhibit 3x better fit/finish than most of the leverguns that came out of the Winchester plant after 1963 - part of the reason they're more costly, besides inflation & the lawyer/tang safety.

A good/used post-1970 Winchester 94 can usually be had for about $350-$400, +/-, which might make a better option for you - a post-1983 Model 94AE (angle-eject) if you need to mount a scope.




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Shooting any of the commemorative Winchesters cuts the resale value way, way down.

Just personal opinion, but a rather-worn (bore good, of course) 94 is likely to be smoother in operation than a new gun.
 
Shooting any of the commemorative Winchesters cuts the resale value way, way down.

True but most commemoratives don't demand much of a premium over standard models anyway.
 
They still don't do well ...

While they often demand a premium, they don't often receive it...
So true and will take awhile before they do. I've had them, shot them and watched what they bring. Your $500.00 is in the ball park but to fancy for most, who want to shoot. .... ;)

Enjoy and;
Be Safe !!!
 
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