Looking for help to value a Winchester 1894

[multiman1]

A family friend has offered me a rifle that they have inherited and they don't want it. All they ask from me is a fair price. It is a Winchester model 1894, in 32 special, with a octagonal barrel. My online search if the serial number shows a manufacture date of 1899. So far I have only seen two pictures of so I cant judge the bore. I hope to go and see it next week. With that limited data can someone give me a ballpark figure until I get more info and some better pictures to post.

 

[kjohn]

An 1899 manufacture .32 Special is not very common. Is it a rifle or a carbine? A reasonable rifle should be around $500 and up. A keeper for sure!!!!!!

 

[Hightrailtracker]

At the right price it's a Keeper, no question , condition and model ( rifle or a carbine ) . Need pictures to give members a better idea .

 

[Mike Webb]

An 1899 manufacture .32 Special is more than uncommon, the .32 WS was not introduced until 1902. Some of the data for serial numbers is inaccurate, I owned a .32 that was made in 1900 according to the old Madis numbers. Probably original but may be a rebarrel. A Buffalo Bill Historical Society letter would answer your questions one way or the other as records still exist for your rifle.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

Cody Museum has records that far back and up til many were destroyed in a factory fire. For a fee, you can get a letter of authenticity, by the serial number, to the caliber, barrel shape and length and any special additions also the date of manuf and date they shipped it. possibly original owner. .32 Special was introduced in October 1901, til then it was a 30-30.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

Just as a bit of info....the Madis numbers of manufacture are as much as 105,434 difference to the Cody Museum Numbers in the manufacture numbers for 1902. I really do not think that in early 1902 the factory can produce such high numbers , but I have been wrong before.

 

[handofzeus]

In good shape with no cracks and 90% blue I'd expect to shell out $800+ from a gun store.

 

[Mike Webb]

The Cody Museum has records for 1894 model Winchesters up to serial number 353,999 above that they don't exist with the exception of some polishing room records of serial numbers. The .32WS was first listed in the 1902 catalogue so production would have begun in late 1901. What do you mean by "til then it was a .30/30"?

Cody Museum has records that far back and up til many were destroyed in a factory fire. For a fee, you can get a letter of authenticity, by the serial number, to the caliber, barrel shape and length and any special additions also the date of manuf and date they shipped it. possibly original owner. .32 Special was introduced in October 1901, til then it was a 30-30.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

Only meant that til the Model 94- 32 special came out..the 30 caliber was available in 30-30.

 

[Mike Webb]

Only meant that til the Model 94- 32 special came out..the 30 caliber was available in 30-30.

Actually the 1894 was introduced in .38/55 and .32/40 in 1894. In 1895 it was offered in .30 WCF(.30/30) and .25/35. The .32 was the last offering in the 1894 and early on had the lowest production numbers but today is the least desirable to collectors something that is hard to understand from a rarity standpoint. Personally I like the .32 Special though ballistically it is pretty much a twin of the 30/30. I think the word "special" sold a lot of rifles for Winchester.

 

[twobitrifles]

Hello,

Your online research for the DOM is almost guaranteed to be based on information which was originally published by Madis and has since been found to not be correct. This information shows a serial number range of between 147684 and 183371 to be produced in 1899. The correct range, based on the original serialization records and factory production ledger is between 53941 and80148 for 1899. The 147684 to 183371 is actually from the second half of 1902 and the beginning of 1903. Therefore the fact that the rifle is a 32 WS caliber fits the time frame no problem. The first sporting rifle in 32 WS was serial number 107731, serialized on 10-5-1901.

The potential value of the rifle is based upon the configuration and condition of the gun. You might want to read this blog post of mine to get a better handle on what is needed to give you an accurate answer as to what it might be worth. The variation can be thousands of dollars.
What I Need
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/give-me-what-i-need-294224.html
This will point out some of the variations in configuration and potential values.
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/we-really-need-some-photos-to-help-you-better-1420.html

Go look at the rifle. Get as much info as you can and do not forget to take a camera with you.
This will help you get the best photos in order that we can see the rifle the best:
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/we-really-need-some-photos-to-help-you-better-1420.html

Good luck
Michael

 

[Mike Webb]

Just so you know in advance, many of the values given in U.S. publications are not comparable to the prices paid in Canada. But as has been said A LOT MORE INFORMATION AND GOOD PHOTOS are required for anyone to make an intelligent estimate of the rifle.

 

[twobitrifles]

Mike Webb wrote:

Just so you know in advance, many of the values given in U.S. publications are not comparable to the prices paid in Canada. But as has been said A LOT MORE INFORMATION AND GOOD PHOTOS are required for anyone to make an intelligent estimate of the rifle.

I absolutely agree on all points!
Michael