What price should I put on my rifle.

B

big al hunter

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I am contemplating selling my Winchester 94 Trails End NRA commemorative rifle. I am a little lost as to what it may be worth. It is one of 1500, or so I recall from the benefit auction I got it at. I have been told $3,500 and $10,000. I am somewhat inclined to believe the $3,500. I believe the collector market has slowed recently, and I'm not sure I want to sell it.....but if the price was right ;)

Are there any collectors on TFL that can clue me in on a reasonable price to start with?

Just occurred to me that pictures would be helpful. It is NIB, but I will post a pic later so you can drool on your keyboard:D
 
Why don't you go to a gun store like gander mountain or Cabelas that has a bluebook of values and see what it says. Usually places like that are a loss to sell stuff but if you pack it up in a case and bring it in they can give you a retail value and then the offending value that they would pay for it.
 
My sources say only 212 were ever produced for the NRA banquets from the original 1500 requested by Winchester. Commemorative guns for organizations who use them for auctions are never worth much. They're too nice and glitzy for practical use, too many produced for collectibility.

Gun Broker has one with a starting bid of $2700.....and no one is interested in bidding on it.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=458535564
 
Depending on how urgently you need the money, I say you start on the higher end of the spectrum and wait to see if anyone bites, then move down in price until it sells. Obviously, don't go down too low, and if your having trouble selling, maybe consider an online gun auction site.
 
My sources say only 212 were ever produced for the NRA banquets from the original 1500 requested by Winchester
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Unless they started counting in the mid 200's there were many more than 212, mine is serial numbered in the high 300's. I saw that listing on gunbroker this morning. He has listed it 13 times, no takers. Part of why I am struggling with what price to list it at. If it is only worth $1,000 I might as well start hunting with it. If I could get more it is worth keeping it unfired. Just have to find the right interested collector.

maybe consider an online gun auction site.
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Yeah, I thought about that too. Just not sure if I want to risk selling at auction and end up getting short changed.

Why don't you go to a gun store like gander mountain or Cabelas that has a bluebook of values
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I looked it up in a blue book several years ago, it was not listed. As I recall the blue book was published after the manufacturing run, but it may have been too soon to get realistic values. There is a Cabelas about an hour from me, I might try that.
 
If its been listed 13 times on Gunbroker.Starting bid $2700 and no ones bid then I doubt very much if you will be able to get that much.I agree with Rembrandt I've never seen any big desire for commemorative guns for organizations
 
It is hard to tell about the Commemorative rifles. A pawn shop here in town had a Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation WBY Vangard .300 Wby mag in the store for sale for almost three years. He was the dealer who originally handled the transfer and the person who won it sold it to him without ever taking ownership of the rifle. He was selling it as new and not used. To make a long story short, he ended up selling it for a lesser price than the regular walnut stocked Vangards he had on the shelf. He tried to sell it to me every time I went in the store.
 
The Blue Book of Gun Values reflects average prices from all over the U.S. with no regard for local supply and demand.
Winchestercollector.org doesn't list a Winchester 94 Trails End NRA Commemorative rifle. However, commemoratives, in general, have little or no collector interest or value unless you can find somebody who wants it.
There's at least one other on Gunbroker at $1195 nobody wants either.
 
I have been trying to sell a consignment John Wayne commemorative for 3 months. The owner decided what it should be worth and would not listen to advice. As above, Winchester commemoratives do not command much if any premium over regular 94s of the same vintage. $2700 is ridiculous, never happen imo. You might get $1000 if you have the box and hang tags, but I would bet you will have a hard time breaking $800 if not.
 
Sad to say value-wise, but what you have is simply a Winchester 94 kinda gussied up a bit. They are pretty good shootin' rifles.

I have a pristine '66 Centennial NIB my Dad thought was the bee's knees back in '66 when it cost a whopping $125! (gold plated?!?! Dad?!?! Really?!?!) I do like the octagonal barrel on it I will say.

Who wants a gold plated Winchester?!?! Cowboy pimps? :D

I am hoping maybe my late father's great grandson will accept it (and not laugh too hard).

Good luck on setting a value to that commemorative. I'd guess it will move for $350-400... maybe.
 
I see this in the Smith & Wesson market, too. Commemorative guns often sell for less than a comparable non-commemerative of the same model and condition. You have to find somebody who wants a "Richard Petty" .45 Colt revolver. It's a real thin market.
 
I bought a Savage 99 75th anniversary commerative like that. The brass plated lever an medallion set in the buttstock were more of a detraction than a selling point for the previuos owner. He had it over twenty years and might have broke even when he sold it to me.

I put a steel tube k4 on it and take it hunting, it's a great shooter. When enough of that brass plating peals off maybe I'll have it blued.
 
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