value of a winchester 1886

[deadin]

so that would make who owns the gun does matter

I don't believe that anyone said the the previous owner doesn't matter.
What was said that speculation about who possibly could have been a previous owner is meaningless unless there is solid proof that it was owned by someone famous (or infamous..)

I've any number of guns that "could" have been owned by someone famous, but no matter how much I fantasize it just doesn't make it so.
I have several 19th Century pistols that I do know (and have proof) who originally owned them, but unfortunately they were nobodies, so the added value is minimal.

[Jim K]

If a gun like that can be bought cheaply enough, a new stock and foreend can be fitted and if the job is done right will look good and bring the value up quite a bit, though not to the level of an untouched gun. Were the barrel not cut, it would be a candidate for a good restoration job.

Jim

[TTE]

Originally Posted by JR_22

value of a winchester 1886

You ask for a value, then argue with those you ask.

You make statements like you know more than they do. And if you do, that's fine, ...... but then, why did you ask the question of what it's worth to start with ?

[BETH]

jr i love the inlay

[marshfellow]

TTE,

............thank you, that needed to be said.

tjw

[JR_22]

thank you Beth

[JR_22]

well it just sounded like they were chopping the gun up TTE and saying it wasn't collectable peace well I bought it I have a small collection what collectors were they talking about. Jim k gave his opinion that was that he didn't keep on about it I can respect that.

[JR_22]

Im not intrested in making it aregional for more money I thought people would apreciate it a little better than they did I was wrong I really don't want to keep on about it I wished I had never posted it now.

[TTE]

Originally Posted by JR_22

TTE and saying it wasn't collectable peace well I bought it I have a small collection


what collectors were they talking about.

Anything is collectable.

Below are 2 examples of things people collect. Which one do you think most people from this site would prefer to collect ?

The ones that would choose the second photo, ...... those are the collectors that post here and the ones you are asking about.

[Jim K]

I hear the term "serious collector" all the time, usually applied to the big money folks, of whom I can assure you I am not one. But this might be interesting, though not gun related.

The story goes that the world heavyweight boxing match was to be staged at New York's Madison Square Garden and the promoter reserved the first ringside rows for "serious sportsmen" at $1000 per seat (a fortune at the time). When he was asked what a "serious sportsman" was, he replied, "anyone who has $1000."

Jim

[JR_22]

Thats true Jim, But here is my point.
Some people think when restoring an old car it should be put back aregional for any value and true beauty, While others might restore it to a point and then beef it up some, tub it out a little, put some nice wheels and paint on it. We all have seen the difference and what it comes down to really is beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You have those that are puritis and those that are not and as long as I disagree with some , people are gonna think I just want to argue . When I look at my guns and other collectables I think of all the history they've been through and wonder what part of history they might have been in , I think of how young and strong our country was and what freedom ment and the work people did . Its sort of like the way some people look at art its not just one thing .

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by JR_22

Thats true Jim, But here is my point.
Some people think when restoring an old car it should be put back aregional for any value and true beauty, While others might restore it to a point and then beef it up some, tub it out a little, put some nice wheels and paint on it. We all have seen the difference and what it comes down to really is beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You have those that are puritis and those that are not and as long as I disagree with some , people are gonna think I just want to argue . When I look at my guns and other collectables I think of all the history they've been through and wonder what part of history they might have been in , I think of how young and strong our country was and what freedom ment and the work people did . Its sort of like the way some people look at art its not just one thing .

Take a 32 Ford Hiboy. Put it back all original. Take another one and chop it and lower it, put a V-8 in it and mag wheels on it. Which one is going to bring the most money? Which one is going to appeal to true collectors? Your gun is a nice piece but it is not original. You can't prove provenance so that is a dead issue, it doesn't matter. It's basically a chopped and lowered Hiboy. It has some value but nothing near what it would if it hadn't been butchered.

[bamajvc]

have any of you been to gun auctions lately??? guns are worth whatever you can get out of them. I saw an 1873 with the wrong barrel,and wood, in terrible shape sell for 1050 last week. There was also an LC smith 410 with refinished wood that went for 2200.

[JR_22]

Your absolutely right bamajvc.

[JR_22]

hawg thats why I made the car comparison , your just gonna get the same arguement all day long you can compare any car you want. And im not trying to prove anything other than my gun is collectable just the way it is.

[deadin]

Most anything is collectible somewhere by someone........

[JR_22]

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/atta...1&d=1344174209




Beautyful gun

[JR_22]

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/atta...1&d=1344174514



what a beautiful old gun.

[JR_22]

http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/atta...1&d=1344174622

[JR_22]

I found this on an michaelsimen.com go there and read what it says

[TTE]

Originally Posted by JR_22

I found this on an michaelsimen.com go there and read what it says

As stated perviously, anything is collectable. Some collections are worth considerably more than others.

However, sometimes that is a difficult premise to realize when you are personally involved in the collecting.


Thanks for the link -

Now that you pointed out this link, I must reconsider what was perviously posted.

Even though you have removed the photos of your rifle (for an older guy, I have a reasonable memory) .... now that I think about it and visualize it in my mind .......... you were correct, ..... your rifle is worth at least a gaziliion $'s and not a cent less (please mail me a 1% evaluation/appraisal fee at your convenience, thanks).



Now, .... here's a link for you -

To save you time, I posted part of what it says there ......

Originality – The piece must have all of the attributes of the weapon as it was received from the factory when new. Refinished steel and/or wood surfaces, altered components, cut down or replaced barrel, magazine, stock, replaced screws, etc., will materially diminish collector value.

http://www.winchestercollector.org/faq.shtml

[JR_22]

I posted it to show that people do collect these guns and where to go to read what they were saying about it. Some of description they were giving wasn't much different from what I had said, but I was made fun of. The gun above from what you are saying is not your original winchester. But it is very collectable tte your the one who wants to argue.

[TTE]

Originally Posted by JR_22

tte your the one who wants to argue.

I don't want to argue.

You asked for a value, got opinions and didn't like them. Opinions were given, then you argued that you knew more than the people you asked.

You are the one that keeps trying to justify that your rifle is collectable.

So the question remains, why did you ask for a value, if you already knew more about collecting than those you asked ?

You seem to have ignored the previous statements that anything is collectable, however, your rifle does not meet the definition of a classic collectable.

If you drilled 5 - one half inch holes in the butt stock (looking like the Olympic rings), I'm sure you could find some one that collected those kinds of rifles.

You think your rifle is collectable ...... great, super, fantastic !

When time rolls around for you to sell it, or your heirs, we will see who's opinion was the most informed and valid, ........... yours, or those you asked here.

[deadin]

As I said before, "anything is collectible by someone" (I even heard of a guy that collected belly-button lint.........) Anyway what the members of this board are trying to say is that your rifle is not really collectible by a Winchester collector because of its non-originality. (There are those that wouldn't mind having it, but wouldn't be willing to pay any kind of a premium for the privilege.)
That being said, I'm sure there is some group of collectors that would be interested in it, just not main-line gun collectors. Whatever group it is will probably be of a much smaller population and thereby the demand will be smaller because of the fewer members. Were it mine I think I would be looking in the Folk-Art area or something similar.....

[JR_22]

I know deadin thats why I said there is more than one type of collector out there and posted that gun because what they had said was kind of like what I had said, people like tt just keeps it going and I've had some fun with it too,