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Posted: 2/3/2011 8:34:34 AM EDT
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I have a nice Model '94 Canadian Centennial short rifle, or carbine as Winchester called it, and I was wanting you guys' thoughts and opinions on shooting it. I had one years ago, that had been shot before I got it, and these rifles are a joy to shoot.
This rifle, on the other hand is unfired. I'm wondering if these rifles will ever reach the collector status that everyone thought they would get to years ago. I really didn't buy this rifle because it was unfired, more because I remembered how sweet a shooter it was. I only assertained later it was unfired. I've gotten differing opinions, mostly just shoot it and take good care of it and it's box, and I will be good to go. I have plenty of other rifles to bang away with, but I keep remembering the sweet balance and accuracy of the other Canadian I had. Your thoughts? Thanks, Mike |
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The commemorative rifles are only "collectible" if they are NIB, with the box. Most run currently around $500-$700, depending on how many were manufactured. The moment it gets a mark on it that removes its "NIB" status, the value drops 30-50%. They made like 90K+ of those Canadian ones, right? I think $500 might even be a little high.
I personally don't think they'll ever be "collectible" in the sense that an OLD Winchester is collectible. IMO, they're more collectible in the "1970s Star Wars toys" collectible sense, with the gaudy boxes and shiny, but cheap-looking metal and wood finish. Remember, they're all Post-1964 and of medium quality, especially in fit and finish. I can't stand the big belt-sanded. dished-out areas around the poorly-inlet stock medallions. 
I say shoot it.  In fact, my local shop has two of the NRA commemorative "muskets," with the 26" barrel and full stock in 30-30 for about $450. I'm mighty tempted to buy one and try it out at 300+ yards with that LeverEvolution ammo. 
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That's kinda where I'm going.
The 20" octagonal barrel and rifle hardware makes a nice short rifle, and I've never understood why Winchester didn't offer this style of rifle in their lineup. Especially after '64, they could have had an "upgrade" carbine, if you will, to offer the shooter that wanted more than the typical carbine. I'm going to enjoy mine as if it were the nice short rifle it is. Thanks, Mike BTW, it's going to have to warm up here in North Texas before I go out and shoot anything! 
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Quoted:
I saw one at a gun show recently for $300 which was fair considering the condition. Even if unfired I wouldn't hesitate to shoot the gun, you probably won't live long enough to see any real return on a gun like that anyway. At 62 I think about that onceinawhile. Which is better? To try to save the collectables for my granddaughter, or shoot the wheels off them now while I can enjoy them. Back in the 60's when I started picking up rare guns, I had a nationaly known collector tell me "Never buy a gun because you think it will be valuable someday, buy it because you like it, and want to play with it". I try to keep that in mind, but occasionaly, I'm drawn to the obscene prices some of these old guns can bring. Thanks, Mike |
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If you still have the box –– i might be tempted to leave 'er be, but with how many were made ––- well, its your rifle –– those octagon barrels are so neat, and the rifle itself, from what little i remember, is not adorned too heavilly other than some scrollwork on the metal and the gold lettering on the barrel ––-
Thats a tough call, I'd probably shoot it. I popped the cherry on an un-fired 6" nickel Python i purchased last year. Friends told me that was a very ignorant thing to do , but y'know –– its my money, and i have enjoyed every round downrange with that fine revolver since |
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I think you are going to be suprised. I'm beginning to believe from what I see at the fun shows that a Python in 90+ condition will bring top money unfired or not.
I think at issue is the trend that no one believes a gun is unfired anymore. So that makes condition paramount. |
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Winchester offered tons of 94 commemoratives, and unless its complete NIB its not worth the extra expense.
A local shop that deals mostly with classic guns has a 94 Golden Spike at roughly 95% condition for $395, and a complete NIB Golden Spike for $700 for example. I'd just shoot it personally. Its still just a post-64 94 with some bling. |
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In truth, no gun is ever sold in an "unfired" condition - even commenoratives are test fired/proofed.
So...to some extent the current cynicism that any "used" commemorative is truly unfiredis both warranted and at the same time not really relevant. It is the conditon that counts and 100% has to be exactly that. Personally most commemoratives are way over produced to ever be really collectible. The lowest proiduction number firearm I ever owned was a Randall Combat model that I carreid as a duty gun - because at the time I bought it no one really knew they'd only produce 1,067 of them. Unfired (or at last looking unfired, with no dissassembly marks etc and still in the box with original papers, it woudl be worth some mopney now. In contrast, manty winchester commemoratives seem to have been made by the truckload, and are a) not worh the aksking proces when new, 2) never appreciate and 3) often get sold at less than the retail price to move them out the door. The latter would make a great shootersince it;s odd sof ever appreciating significantly are pretty small even if unfired. |
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