An early serial # Win 1894 in .32-40 ... info + value please

It's very hard to make a good valuation from photographs. From what I do see of your rifle, I'd hazard a guess that you could probably get $700 to $800 for it on the Canadian market, if the mechanicals and bore are good. If the operating mechanism has problems or the bore is more than slightly pitted, the value would be half of that.

I think the 1/2 length mag tube adds some value over the regular full length tube. If the wood has been re-varnished the value would be reduced somewhat.

It appears to be a nice, well looked after old rifle. Don't refinish it. It is worth a lot more in original condition than it is refinished.
 
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Kilo Charlie said:
The .32-40 is a good hunting cartridge if you're a good hunter. Muzzle velocity at 1440 fps is MUCH less than the .30-30 or .32 Special; it's at its best inside a hundred yards. New brass is available from Winchester. New ammo is obsolete. The Hornady .32 bullet must be seated below the cannelure to work through the action, but the Speer .32 will work fine, according to Venturino.
The fact it's a first-year rifle may mean cast bullets are a better idea, easier on the rifling.
Beautiful rifle. Gimme gimme.
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Actually the 32-40 suffers from the same ballistics the 45-70 does. Their way downloaded to accommidate the poorer strength rifles of the day. One Reg factory box lists 1540fps & I would guess the "special high velocity" loads specified for the 1894 winchester fire there bullets around the 1800 fps range. I loaded my 32-40 to about 2000fps quite safely in old long barreled guns, could probably have went to very close to 32s ballistics but see no need to go that high in the old girls, a 170 gn bullet at 2,000fps does quite nice.
 
I would not recommend refinishing it unless it has already been modified. One thing that does look odd to me is the wood behind the upper tang. It rises too steeply, as if it has been cut back a bit to accommodate a large folding tang site. A Cody letter will also tell the story on the magazine, whether it is a cut down full mag or actually came from the factory with a full mag. As for value, it really depends if the wood and mag tube has been modified. However, nothing decreases an old rifle's value more than refinishing it (re-blueing and sanding and refinishing the wood), so be sure before you refinish it.
 
Don't even consider having a gunsmith re-finish it or an offer of less than $2500.
I have an oct. barrel 30-30 made in 1896 that had a fore-stock that was split, so I had to deal with the stock, but what I did was minimal.

After stock repairs.
112yearold3030andwarblade.jpg
 
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Full

Sniper1 said:
Hi guys,

- Model 1894, .32-40, marked "Pat. Aug. 21 1894"
- serial number: 9328 (yes, four digits :eek: )
- Full octogonal 26" barrel
- half magazine
- condition "good", very serviceable action, not much original blueing left (was used for hunting for several years), but no much pitting either. Hard to see inside the barrel... needs a good cleanup... the rifling seems very tired.
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FYI
your gun was made in Nov 1896
not 95 as the experts were claiming and you should have a FULL mag and not a 1/2 mag. Look under the barrel about 4" back from the muzzle and see if the dove tail was filled in.
If it was then you have a shooter and not a collector.
Meanea
 
Conan_568 said:
Don't even consider having a gunsmith re-finish it or an offer of less than $2500.
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Conan, even if the rifle was in all original condition, $2,500 would be a pretty steep price for a gun like Sniper's with the amount of wear it has. I consider the boys over at Winchester Collector to price their guns on the high side. They have an original, special order 32-40 for sale in better condition for $US 1,500. http://www. rarewinchesters.com/forsale/1894-0481353.pdf (delete the spaces between www. and rarewinchesters)

In Sniper's case, I'm sure the notch in the wood behind the upper tang has been carved back a bit, Meanea has found that the gun is not in factory configuration, I suspect the wood has been varnished, and it is not as high condition as the one on Winchester Collector, so $2,500 would be considerably too high a price in my estimation.
 
Win 38-55 said:
Conan, even if the rifle was in all original condition, $2,500 would be a pretty steep price for a gun like Sniper's with the amount of wear it has. I consider the boys over at Winchester Collector to price their guns on the high side. They have an original, special order 32-40 for sale in better condition for $US 1,500. http://www. rarewinchesters.com/forsale/1894-0481353.pdf (delete the spaces between www. and rarewinchesters)

In Sniper's case, I'm sure the notch in the wood behind the upper tang has been carved back a bit, Meanea has found that the gun is not in factory configuration, I suspect the wood has been varnished, and it is not as high condition as the one on Winchester Collector, so $2,500 would be considerably too high a price in my estimation.
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X2!
 
Win 38-55 said:
Conan, even if the rifle was in all original condition, $2,500 would be a pretty steep price for a gun like Sniper's with the amount of wear it has. I consider the boys over at Winchester Collector to price their guns on the high side. They have an original, special order 32-40 for sale in better condition for $US 1,500. http://www. rarewinchesters.com/forsale/1894-0481353.pdf (delete the spaces between www. and rarewinchesters)

In Sniper's case, I'm sure the notch in the wood behind the upper tang has been carved back a bit, Meanea has found that the gun is not in factory configuration, I suspect the wood has been varnished, and it is not as high condition as the one on Winchester Collector, so $2,500 would be considerably too high a price in my estimation.
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Your being very polite to Conan 568 :)

$2,500 for a questionably bubba'd 1894 made me laugh :D

On the other hand...
Conan: I have a original hex 1894 in .32s in about the same blued condition I could let you have for the bargon price of...$2,000 ;)
 
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Wow, 2500 beans for an un-original bubba'd gun!! If anyone offers that you better take it and run!
I'd be starting at about $1000, and be prepared to move down.

BTW Conan, if these are the going prices, I've got a 20% button-mag 38-55 that i'd let go for $2495! ;)
 
Meanea said:
FYI
your gun was made in Nov 1896
not 95 as the experts were claiming and you should have a FULL mag and not a 1/2 mag. Look under the barrel about 4" back from the muzzle and see if the dove tail was filled in.
If it was then you have a shooter and not a collector.
Meanea
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You're right ! the dovetail has been filled in... so mag cut down. Maybe this was done to respect some hunting law re: mag capacity. See picture:
2008_0414_061324AA.jpg


Anyway, it's unfortunate my 1894 has been bubba'd.
But now, since i know the value has dramatically dropped (from a potential 2500$ pricetag :eek: )... what would stop me from refinishing it ? Will it still have a good value if i keep it like that 50 years from now (i plan to give it to my son) ?
 
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