Time For A Treat (Be Sure to Be Sitting Down)

C

COSteve

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Over on ARFCOM, just after Christmas this guy posts that his dad has a Winchester Model 94 in 38-55 with a s/n of 13xxx in excellent condition that's been in the family for generations and wonders if it's worth much. The first reply says without seeing it it must be worth at least $10K because with an under 14xxx s/n it's a true 1894 model 94 and the OP can't believe it.

Without any pictures the guys just say, yep it must be worth some and they ask for pictures. Fast forward to last Wednesday, 2/1/12 and he finally gets set up and posts some pictures of one of the most beautiful rifles I've ever seen.

Then yesterday, he posts again saying " Holly Stuff!" with a link to Gun Values Board where an appraiser explains just what his dad has ..... starting out by writing, "If you are not sitting down, please do so now... and if your father is in the vicinity, have him sit down as well."

Here's the link with the appraisal and pictures. Scroll up to see his request and the pictures and then follow along with the appraisal. Enjoy: Winchester Model 1894 s/n 13,826
 
Heartening to find that there are still rarities "out there" which haven't disappeared into collections. Be good if the Cody museum could buy that example.

I once acquired at auction the rifle that Jim Bridger used when he was a scout for the Army. After a couple of years, thinking about it, I sold it to that museum. Now, it's viewable by any visitor and isn't hidden away as a safe queen.
 
Its in such great condition, beautiful wood.

Reminds me of a man I know who has a first year of production Colt Single Action Army. It has those fancy skeletonized silver grips, can't remember what they're called, filigree maybe? Anyway its a very, very low serial number and looks like brand new. :eek:
 
Sorry, setting down didn’t help, fell off my chair.
I remember when I was about 12 (back in the 60’s) I was over at a friend’s house and he took me into the basement to show me what he found. Being that long ago I can't give you that much particulars on the gun but it was a Winchester lever action with an octagon barrel. I also remember it look old but in very nice shape and no rust.
When I got out of the Navy in the 70’s and came home got the friendship going again and asked him what every happened to the Winchester?
“Don’t know when mom and dad moved from the old farm house it came up missing.”
 
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Dang! That's a beautiful rifle. $30,000 ... holy shiz. As nice as it is I would probably sell it because that's enough money for a nice car or whole lot of something. Plus if he so much as breaths wrong near it it'll probably loose value.
 
The same rifle and photos were posted in the Harly Nolden Memorial Firearms Research area here on TFL last week. Nice rifle.
 
I'd call that one a keeper. I didn't keep the Bridger rifle because of its history, which seemed to me to be more important than the rifle itself.
 
Chicken scratch compared to some of the old Colt cap and ball revolvers. A few years ago a Colt Walker sold for over 950K, That's a new car away from a million bucks. Some Dragoons have brought 200-300K.:eek:
 
In the early 70s when i was still in school i worked sundays cleaning my dads buddys bar He knew i was into guns and allways called me when someone wanted to settle there tab by selling guns. I cringe now at the oportunitys missed. Many old oct barreled wins and marlins came and went. Many i just passed because i was broke. Never paid more then 50 bucks for one of them. back then they were considered clunkers that no real hunter would want to tote around in the woods. everyone wanted shiny new bolt guns with scopes. I could have bought a house with the money if i would have held on to all of them. Id pick them up for 35 bucks and sell them a week later for 50. I guess though you could say the same about muscle cars. Who knew a hemi cuda or a ls6 chevelle would bring 200k!!
 
Aw, a lot of us have those stories. I recall as a kid that hock shops on 6th St. in Austin had bunches of old SAA Colts in the windows for $25 to $35.

In 1969 in Denver hock shop, I saw a Walker Colt in the case with all the accoutrements for $600.
 
Aw, a lot of us have those stories. I recall as a kid that hock shops on 6th St. in Austin had bunches of old SAA Colts in the windows for $25 to $35.
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You don't have to go all the way back to the 60's to find the "good old days." I don't have to guess about the date because I know when I entered the US Army. That was AUG 85. Before that, I was working as a manager for Wendy's. They sent me to various Oklahoma stores. I was in Elk City at one point. It had been an oil town in the early 80's and lots of money had been made there. Then it crashed in 83. I was 22 years old and barely able to afford gas for my car. Sure couldn't afford to buy guns to put away as an investment. But I remember walking around Elk City and seeing pawn shops everywhere just crammed ceiling to floor with beautiful guns and nobody buying them. All that oil money had flowed in, everybody had bought Winchesters and Colts, then bust. They had sold their new guns, they had sold their family heirlooms, then they moved out of town leaving it all. Anybody with a couple hundred thousand in investment cash could have made some crazy deals. Would never happen today. Today it would all just end up on the internet.

Gregg
 
Chicken scratch compared to some of the old Colt cap and ball revolvers. A few years ago a Colt Walker sold for over 950K, That's a new car away from a million bucks. Some Dragoons have brought 200-300K.
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So sorry to dissappoint you.:confused: We would love to see pictures of your Walkers and Dragoons.
 
Over on ARFCOM, just after Christmas this guy posts that his dad has a Winchester Model 94 in 38-55 with a s/n of 13xxx in excellent condition that's been in the family for generations
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What a quandary for the owner, tho. Do I keep the family heirloom, or sell it??
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Whereas, David P, I understand and can appreciate the "quandry" you postulate in terms of realizing the monetary worth of the firearm in question, the issue you raise poses no quandry for me. Call me a sentimental old cuss (an apt description, by the way) if you must but I maintain that there is simply no substitute for replacing a historical firearm that has been "in the family for generations" with money, no matter how much. The money will eventually be spent but the loss of a familial connection with the past will be felt for generations to come. I say keep it and continue to appreciate the bonds with the past that can't be bought for any price.
 
I'd keep it. I don't think it matters if it's a cheap gun or an expensive gun. I wouldnt care of the value, I'd treasure it and continue to pass it down. It'd mean more to me than any dollar amount.
 
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