1886 Winchester 45-90 value

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Easyrider

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Southwestern Manitoba
Hi. I am thinking of selling a model 1886 Winchester in Cal 45-90. It has a pistol grip stock, and what appears to be a standard length octagon barrel, and unremarkable iron sights. The action is good, and operates nicely. That's pretty much it for the good news. Now for the bad...the mag has been cut off. There is virtually no original finish left on either the wood or the barrel/reciever. The forestock has a small sliver missing on one side, and the butt stock probably saw some sandpaper sometime in the last millenium. The ebony inlay in the heel of the pistol grip is about half gone. The bore is pitted, and rusty, but the rifling is plainly visible. I shot the rifle a number of years ago, and it shot surprisingly well. Not as well as my good 45-90, but I wouldn't hesitate to take it deer or moose hunting as long as nobody tried long shots. I bought the thing about 25 or 30 years ago, intending to spruce it up, but...well, you know how it goes. Now I want a new Savage, and I need a bit of cash. Any ideas what it is worth?
Until I read the tutorial and figure out how to post pictures here, PM me and I will email pics, if you don't mind. Sorry for the trouble, but I struggle with this damn computer sometimes...:( I do intend to figure this out, as I'd like to share some pics of my little collection. Thanks...
 
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There, how easy was that? Dandy tutorial, Wally!
OBTW, forgot to mention, the serial number is partially obscured by pitting, but the legible part is 1XX529, and that's how its registered. The uneadable digits "may" be 07, which would make it born in 1896, but that is speculation.
 
Even in poor condition these rifles are in the big book for 2500.00 , that don't mean you will get that much in Canada, the butt stock looks like it has been changed to me and that can take away from the value, you said the mag tube has been cut but you dont show the muzzle end, these rifles were available with a half tube and could you tell us the length of the barrel?
 
The buttstock appears to be an original 1886 Pistol Grip buttstock, just has seen some sanding. As OP noted, magtube has been chopped. If it came factory that way, the end plug would be rounded, not flat.
Rough, but still neat old gun. Don't see many PGs with the plain wood.
Matt
 
45-90 is VERY desireable in the 1886, unfortunately the cut mag tube and sanded stock detract from collector value. If it is a decent shooter it's still worth more than a "parts gun".
 
Shotgunjoe, is that an offer???:D

The barrel measures 25 1/8" to the reciever, and likely has 3/4" of threads on it, which would equal 25 7/8" overall, which is correct for a 26" barrel.

The mag has been cut off. I promise. The stock looks to have been sanded, not replaced, but I can't swear to that. It was like that when I bought it 30 years ago, and it looked then like it had been that way for a long time.

I understand the thinking that this really is a parts gun, but I don't necessarily agree with it. The rifle is certainly of no interest to a serious collector, but it is my opinion that it is of interest to a casual collector/shooter who doesn't have $2500 to shell out for a minty one. Lots of us are happy to have a little piece of history to go out and play with. In fact, one could make the argument that a rifle like this one, a little bit rough, is a more suitable thing to go shooting with than the minty closet queen. Like I mentioned earlier, it shoots ok (not perfect, but ok) and will give a casual history buff the little buzz associated with lighting up 90 grains of black powder behind a 405 grain lead bullet, connected to himself with a crescent butt plate! No wimps allowed! As my Grandad used to say, "guaranteed to kill on both ends". As I said earlier, I wouldn't hesitate to take it out after moose or any other big game (well, maybe not Griz).

OBTW, I notice that so far, nobody has gone out on a limb to put a value on it...oh, except for Shotgunjoe's generous offer!
 
My suggestion - gauging from the rest of your collection - get a new mag tube - they are not that hard to get - replace some of the missing screws and put it in your collection. You're right - there's nothing like the big KABOOM of that 45-90 in black powder. It also makes you understand why they invented Smokeless Powder!!! Don't part that old Winnie out - it deserves better!!!
 
Easyrider said:
Shotgunjoe, is that an offer???:D

The rifle is certainly of no interest to a serious collector, but it is my opinion that it is of interest to a casual collector/shooter who doesn't have $2500 to shell out for a minty one.
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Minty ones aren't $2500:p Remember winchesters are the most hyped over rated guns out there. Reason, uncle sam to the south. The yanks will eat there own s**t, pay for the experience and come back for seconds :eek:when it comes to old stuff. Don't believe me, check out old Harleys, muscle cars from the 60s etc, civil war memorabilia, and so forth. Old guns are like coins, value is in the condition for the most part. As for your gun, why don't you offer it for trade for the savage you want? Or get someone to get it south, or lastly, see if shotgunjoe will give you the $2500 he quoted. Good luck.
 
It is not a parts gun and no not an offer, I was quoting from the standard catalog of firearms and did put in the disclaimer that you would not get that much up here.
I could not see the muzzle end and that is why I asked if you were sure it was cut tube . Just as a point maker there was a local auction thispast weekend in which there was a 1886 in rough shape went for around 1500. The last 1886 I sold was for 900 to a dealer, it was in rough shape bad bore stock starting to rot, I thought I was doing good even though the dealer was smiling all the time. Johnl as for the rolling papers I see you live in the land of the great smoke, enjoy.
 
I would say the same as Short Knife get on the phone with track of the wolf and order up a new barrel, and have a smith that knows antiques work on it, search around you will find everything that you will need to make this rifle great again.

Here ya go from Track of the wolf
GMT-45-LEV-O Barrel, .45-70 caliber, tapered octagon, 29" long, 1-20" twist, .450" bore, .458" groove, .940" breech, .820" muzzle, 1.04" diameter stub $169.99
 
I agree that it would make a nice restoration piece. It would never fetch full collector value, but so what? It was made to shoot, and as long as it does that with a satisfying thwomp and a cloud of acrid smoke, then the world is a good place.
 
Re: Track of the Wolf - instead of changing the barrel - give some thought to getting a barrel liner from TotW so you can keep the original barrel on gun. Its not that difficult a job since in both cases you have to take the barrel off. In fact you can bore out a barrel to accept a liner with a power hand drill if you have a piloted drill. Loctite in place and ream the chamber - screw it back on. Again you have the original barrel (and markings) and you can do it all yourself. Track of the Wolf are good guys to deal with - one of the few that will ship things like barrels and liners to us. Go for it! God hates a coward!
 
win 1886

as it is already devalued with the short mag why not try to find a part from an original piece to put her back to original spec? original(used) parts should look to have same degree of finish and allow her to again be considered for collection purpose. other defects would then govern value. regards
 
Actually, I have a replacement mag that I bought years ago, but it turned out to be a new jobber thing, all blued up, but with some rust on it. I haven't done the replacement, 'cause I don't want any misunderstanding about it being original...
I am glad to see that there is some interest out there for a restoration, this rifle may not be no beauty queen, but it is, IMHO, a good shooter. I personally wouldn't frig with the barrel until I found out for sure how it shoots as is.
 
As for selling the rifle, I am waiting for my PAL :(, so I can't really do anything till I get it. That gives me some time to consider how much to ask for it. When that time comes, I am wondering if I could do some sort of tender, or online auction on this forum. Has anyone tried that, do the people who run the site have a problem with that? I just think that a tender or auction is a pretty good method of price discovery, and fair to everybody, assuming that I can give adequate discription. What do you all think??
 
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