Unfired Winchester Model 94 Centennial 1866-1966 Rifle, Too shoot of not to shoot?

C

CanadianBaconPancakes

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
26   0   0
Location
B.C
Recently got a Gold Plated Winchester Model 94 Centennial 1866-1966 Rifle on trade, I looked it over and its appears unfired in mint shape. The gold plating is in very good shape aswell. Bore is mint over all I am pretty sure I has not seen a round since the test fire. It was advertised as unfired but for a rifle of its age I didn't take that to heart. I wiped the whole guns down with balistol and rem oil and it looks like it just came out of a box.

Now...... I'm torn between shooting it or leaving it in the safe, I know there is about 100,000 made so its not very rare but it is in mint shape, that obviously wont last out in the bush.....

Decisions...













 
Wow! That is outstanding! Most of the commemorative Winchesters have very little appeal to me because they commemorate some
hard to identify with theme and don't have an octagonal barrel. I would value that rifle highly and would want to preserve it as it is.
I would allow myself to take it to a place to shoot where it can be set down on a padded surface and put 100 rounds thru it and keep
the targets as proof of how great the rifle shoots, thus increasing its value in my eyes.
 
Robert Nicholson said:
Wow! That is outstanding! Most of the commemorative Winchesters have very little appeal to me because they commemorate some
hard to identify with theme and don't have an octagonal barrel. I would value that rifle highly and would want to preserve it as it is.
I would allow myself to take it to a place to shoot where it can be set down on a padded surface and put 100 rounds thru it and keep
the targets as proof of how great the rifle shoots, thus increasing its value in my eyes.
Click to expand...

The octogonal barrel was defiantly one of the reasons I picked this up aswell. Also because of the high price of leavers now adays this was a no brainier. The trade made it all so much better since all the stuff I traded was for sale already and now i got lots of room!
 
It is suppose to be a collectable.To see if it is actually worth someting is something to look into.If fired it is worth next to nothing.Did it come with the box? If so and the box is mint it can add up to 70% to the value. One of my brothers was into collecting these for a time but got out of it. Alot of these rifles if you work the action you would find that I didn't function as well as say a standerd 30-30 so might not be all that great at functioning.
 
I'd be shooting it but not in the bush. May not want to anyway as they are kinda heavy when loaded. Tried it, once. I take the Marlin hunting and shoot the 1886 for $H!$s and giggles.
 
Northern Amateur said:
I'd be shooting it but not in the bush. May not want to anyway as they are kinda heavy when loaded. Tried it, once. I take the Marlin hunting and shoot the 1886 for $H!$s and giggles.
Click to expand...

My bad. Thought it was a commemorative 1886 at first glance (which I have never seen before). Second look, well, now I just feel stupid!
 
Picked up my Centennial (minus the gold plate) as a beater rifle. Probably a quarter of what your gold-plated version is worth, but I don't mind taking this one out to shoot. You might want to look into getting a second less expensive one like what I did.

http://3.bp.########.com/-Ut_xs3W0z4s/Ug79TaYysWI/AAAAAAAASNM/PhWqyopMsxM/s1600/P8130022.JPG

http://1.bp.########.com/-S10Fd9bJEi4/Ug7-IDzZF9I/AAAAAAAASN8/y5RB40u4EVY/s1600/P8130029.JPG
 
Personally I would not fire it. I would sell it and get a pre 64 that I could shoot and hunt with and not worry about how much each little scratch cost me.
 
Put it away and if interested, buy a used one in decent condition and fire away. You can find on the used gun market some excellent model 94 for a decent price.......that would be my choice. In my case, I have guns just to admire and look at, guns that are interesting, guns that I consider tools for either hunting or casual firing. Of course this is a personal choice and not for everyone.
 
No box unfortunately! I seen ones with box sell from 1200-1300 from site sponsors and 1000 for one without but i got mine for significantly less then that. Have not seen the gold plated one yet buy I imagine not that much more then 900-1000.
 
nomad 68 said:
I guess I differ from most in my feeling that " if I can't use and enjoy a gun," then I don't want it. Never could see the point in being a gun custodian vs a gun owner.
Click to expand...

That was my initial feeling and I had planned to shoot it. Until I had it in hands and seen the condition. Now it become a very very tough choice. Everyone has some very good points, I could get a 3030 leaver action mossberg for 450$ new, prob under 400 on sale.
 
CanadianBaconPancakes said:
That was my initial feeling and I had planned to shoot it. Until I had it in hands and seen the condition. Now it become a very very tough choice. Everyone has some very good points, I could get a 3030 leaver action mossberg for 450$ new, prob under 400 on sale.
Click to expand...

After owning both, I'd go with the Mossy, as it is a real nice shooter. That said, the 464 could sure use a longer barrel (26 in.) for better off-hand shootin' . As for the '66 Centennial Winchesrer.... Shoot the pee outta 'er! They shoot well with tailored handloads and balance well .:d
 
Well, what sellers price Commemoratives at aren't what they sell for. If they sell at all.
The same rifle is on the EE right now with box for $720. While the non gold receiver versions sell for $600-$700.
Although pretty, remember that they are also post 64...
I would shoot it, because I live my life. I don't squander it worrying about dollars and cents.

I was just watching Klondike Trappers yesterday and one of the Trappers had a Commemorative RCMP 94 over his shoulder while deep in the bush.
 
Last edited:
I'd shoot it. A gun has one purpose in life, to send projectiles down range. Deny a gun this and it becomes a piece of metal. You can still care for it and appreciate it, probably moreso, after it's been shot.
 
There are various factors afloat right now that have the potential to increase the value of that rifle in a few years. Display it and bask in the feeling of having a piece of gun art. (maybe shoot it just a little)
 
Shoot it. I have and did. Mine is exactly the same. I put a Williams peep sight on it, fits by removing the two side plate screws. Yours looks like a 26" barrel. Believe it or not I hit a 24" metal plate at 300 yards, great fun. And I do put it down on a cloth when I need to reload or put it down. There's a lot of these around, and then can be had for anywhere from $5-800.oo so no really a collectable.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom