Hello everybody, just looking for some input into my newest purchase. I found a John Wayne Commemorative Winchester at my local gun store, and with as big a fan as I am of The Duke, I just couldn't pass it up. It is a model 94, chambered in 32-40, and from what I can find online it was made in the early 80's. Now this is well before when I was born in 2004, so I am looking for some insight into it. Looking it up on the internet I can't seem to find much besides old closed auctions of ones previously sold. I was hoping someone might know how many of these were made, why they chose to chamber it in 32-40, why they were released then(I'm assuming bc he died just a few years prior?), as you can see I have lots of questions about it and can't find many answers so if anybody could shine some light on it I would greatly appreciate it. I am already in love with it and am working on a display for it as we speak, but I just enjoy knowing the history behind the guns, especially the special edition ones. Thank you for any info you can provide!
John Wayne Commemorative
- Thread starter Deerhunt
- Start date
44caliberkid
New member
You’ll need a box of John Wayne Commemorative 32-40 ammo for your display, found on GB or at gun shows, for $125 - $200 per box. Any 32-40 is ridiculous right now, bring about $4 per round.
The John Wayne Commemorative is holding its value a little better than most of the Winchester Commemoratives just because fans are still willing to pay up for them. The rest are worth little more than an unembellished late model 94.
The John Wayne Commemorative is holding its value a little better than most of the Winchester Commemoratives just because fans are still willing to pay up for them. The rest are worth little more than an unembellished late model 94.
Winchester made a butt-load of commemorative model 94's. You could contact Winchester and have just about anything made you wanted. So many that most are worth less than a standard rifle.
Not sure what the JW version is worth, but I'm sure it will hold it's value more than most.
Wayne died in 1979. His last movie was 1976 in "The Shootist". If you've never seen it you should. Wayne knew he was dying of cancer while filming the movie. The movie was about an old gunfighter dying of cancer.
When he dies in the movie everyone knew it was his last.
Not sure what the JW version is worth, but I'm sure it will hold it's value more than most.
Wayne died in 1979. His last movie was 1976 in "The Shootist". If you've never seen it you should. Wayne knew he was dying of cancer while filming the movie. The movie was about an old gunfighter dying of cancer.
When he dies in the movie everyone knew it was his last.
stagpanther
New member
I could definitely see spending some money on a JW commemorative especially of it was a 92 like the ones he used in John Ford westerns--which were the all-time greatest westerns IMO.
According to my Winchester book, the U.S./American issue John Wayne Commemorative was made/issued in 1982 with a total production of 49000.
There was also a U.S./American issue 1 of 300 set made/issued in 1982 with a total production of 100.
As an aside there was also a Canadian issue that was made/issued in 1981 with a total production of 1000.
There was also a U.S./American issue 1 of 300 set made/issued in 1982 with a total production of 100.
As an aside there was also a Canadian issue that was made/issued in 1981 with a total production of 1000.
I have seen some of the ammo, and it is definitely on the pricey side, I'll have to recover from the purchase of the gun first, but that'll be next on the list for sure.
I have seen the shootist, only a couple times though, it's kind of like The Cowboys, a good movie, just don't like him dying in the end.
They did make a 100th anniversary John Wayne that was a '92, those are a bit out of my price range sadly.
Was there any difference between the American and Canadian versions?
I have seen the shootist, only a couple times though, it's kind of like The Cowboys, a good movie, just don't like him dying in the end.
They did make a 100th anniversary John Wayne that was a '92, those are a bit out of my price range sadly.
Was there any difference between the American and Canadian versions?
I'm not sure if there was any physical difference between the US and Canadian model other than serial numbers and total production.
The US model sold for $650 and the Canadian model sold for $995. I forgot about another model which was the John Wayne Duke, made in 1981 with a total production of 1,000 at a cost $2250. The 1 of 300 matched set sold for $12,000.
Some books say all John Wayne Winchester Commemoratives were produced in 1981, and some say 1981 and 1982. Also, one book I have says only 100 of the 1 of 300 matched set were made while another says there were 300.
The US model sold for $650 and the Canadian model sold for $995. I forgot about another model which was the John Wayne Duke, made in 1981 with a total production of 1,000 at a cost $2250. The 1 of 300 matched set sold for $12,000.
Some books say all John Wayne Winchester Commemoratives were produced in 1981, and some say 1981 and 1982. Also, one book I have says only 100 of the 1 of 300 matched set were made while another says there were 300.
bamaranger
New member
nobody
Nobody out commemorated Winchester, and the M94 with its flat sided receiver was an ideal canvas. In my library....somewhere.....is an oversize, hardcover book with an article listing all the M94 commemoratives and the number of same. There were indeed a large number.
Nobody out commemorated Winchester, and the M94 with its flat sided receiver was an ideal canvas. In my library....somewhere.....is an oversize, hardcover book with an article listing all the M94 commemoratives and the number of same. There were indeed a large number.
Of the book I referenced, it notes Winchester started making them around 1964 and then goes on to list models thru 2006. They, (Miroku), may still be making them I'm not sure.
Of the models listed in my book, counting special issues and private issues they have produced 149 different Commemoratives.
Of the models listed in my book, counting special issues and private issues they have produced 149 different Commemoratives.
I have no idea the actual reason, but it is not impossible they chambered it in an uncommon, essentially obsolete caliber to discourage people from actually shooting them and at the same time encourage purchase the matching commemorative ammunition, as it was nearly the only easily available .32-40 at the time.
Buy the rifle, a box or two of the John Wayne ammo, and keep it pristine (including the box and all papers) to preserve maximum collector value might have been the plan, all along.
Straitshot
New member
Don't know if accurate but I heard back when they were first issued 32-40 was the chambering Wayne preferred.
Straitshot
New member
I might also add that the first two original chamberings for the 1894 were the 32-40 and 38-55 black powder cartridges.
Does anybody else on here have one of the commeratives they'd be willing to share pictures of? Or any ideas of where I can get the commerative scabbard to go with it? With all the literature I have that came with it, one was a order form for the scabbard for $40! You can't find them for that anymore!
The Happy kaboomer
New member
As jmr40 stated. At that time Win. made 100's of commemratives......Celebrating everything except full moon.....That was in the CHEAP era of 94 production...IE....Stamped metal lifters/cast receivers and low quality assembly. Most real Win 94 shooters(LIKE ME) won't touch a commemorative 94.
44caliberkid
New member
https://bid.kramersales.com/auctions/6289/lot/6809-winchester-fringed-gun-case
Is this the case you’re looking for? Last two I’ve seen sell went for almost $200.
Is this the case you’re looking for? Last two I’ve seen sell went for almost $200.
Mike Irwin
Staff
" why they chose to chamber it in 32-40"
Jumping into this late, but apparently chambering the commemorative in .32-40 was a call back to Wayne's first big movie, Stagecoach, in which he supposedly carried a rifle chambered in .32-40.
I seem to recall a scene in which he was holding a couple of cartridges in his hand and they were .32-40s.
Obviously a crock, because the movie was set in a time before the Winchester 1894 in .32-40 was available, and because virtually all Winchesters used in firing scenes in movies back then were 1873s or 1892s chambered in .38-40 or .44-40 because both could be used with 5-in-1 blanks (as could Colt Peacemakers chambered in .38-40, .44-40, or .45 Colt, hence the "5")
Jumping into this late, but apparently chambering the commemorative in .32-40 was a call back to Wayne's first big movie, Stagecoach, in which he supposedly carried a rifle chambered in .32-40.
I seem to recall a scene in which he was holding a couple of cartridges in his hand and they were .32-40s.
Obviously a crock, because the movie was set in a time before the Winchester 1894 in .32-40 was available, and because virtually all Winchesters used in firing scenes in movies back then were 1873s or 1892s chambered in .38-40 or .44-40 because both could be used with 5-in-1 blanks (as could Colt Peacemakers chambered in .38-40, .44-40, or .45 Colt, hence the "5")