Antique RCMP Rifle

Crazy Chaingun

Crazy Chaingun

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Hello Gunnutz

My Dad was given a sweet rifle from my Grandfather.

It's a "Commemorative 100th Anniversary RCMP Lever Action 30-30 Rifle"
Beautiful gun, never fired, shiny brass on the reciever, foregrip and stock, original box...

Anyway we would like to know what its worth, and how much the value will decrease if we were to fire it.

Thanks in advance
 
The RCMP commemoratives have two serial number ranges. One for serving members and one for the rest of the general public. If the rifle has its box, is unfired, has all the papers and cards, plus zero fingerprints, it will be worth about the price originally paid. Maybe more, but not a huge amount more. The trouble is Winchester made these rifles to sell, not to become investments. If it doesn't have any of the accompaniments, it is just a very pretty .30-30 deer rifle.
 
Crazy Chaingun said:
Anyway we would like to know what its worth, and how much the value will decrease if we were to fire it.
Click to expand...

I honestly don't think the value would affected to any serious extent if fired. By all means enjoy it and put a few bullets down range. Guns were meant to be fired. At least in my eyes any gun's value intrinsically increases if I can shoot it over just eye candy appeal. :)
 
Winchester was banging out Commemorative Issues of the 1894 on about a weekly basis at the time.

From what I have read, it was not exactly a peak time for quality output from the factory, either. Some of the guys here have written about their experiences trying to get them to shoot and function as advertised.

If it's still in the box, got all the hang tags and paperwork, etc. , sell it for what can be got and buy something you want. If it's been cycled a couple times already (not sure if they were wrapping the paper tape over the hammer at that time, or not) you may as well take it to the range and give it a go. This will cause much hand wringing and consternation from the folks that want to buy these all 'as new', but unless the rifle and everything else already still is as new...

Your stuff, enjoy!

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
Winchester was banging out Commemorative Issues of the 1894 on about a weekly basis at the time.

From what I have read, it was not exactly a peak time for quality output from the factory, either. Some of the guys here have written about their experiences trying to get them to shoot and function as advertised.

If it's still in the box, got all the hang tags and paperwork, etc. , sell it for what can be got and buy something you want. If it's been cycled a couple times already (not sure if they were wrapping the paper tape over the hammer at that time, or not) you may as well take it to the range and give it a go. This will cause much hand wringing and consternation from the folks that want to buy these all 'as new', but unless the rifle and everything else already still is as new...

Your stuff, enjoy!

Cheers
Trev
Click to expand...

I was always waiting for Winchester to come out with the Thomas Crapper Commemorative, with little roller sling swivels, and a white porcelain trap in the butt, complete with cleaning wipes.
Winchester was cranking "collectors' items", and sold a lot of product to folks who thought they were buying something special.
Some of these have acually appreciated in value, if kept in absolutely new condition. The members' editions of the RCMP Commemoratives are in this category.
The Canadian Centennial rifles and carbines are actually worth less now than when sold, considering inflation.
Folks who do collect these things do insist on new condition if a premium is going to be paid.
If the OP wants this rifle to maintain any enhanced value, it must be maintained in unfired condition.
Otherwise it becomes just another shiney, gussied up, post '64 Winchester.
 
"...value will decrease..." About half. None are antiques or particularly old. Mind you, Winchester Commemoratives are only desired by collectors if they are still sealed in the original box. Even then you have to find somebody who wants it. Winchester Commemoratives are just gussied up 'stock' rifles. Even the non-.30-30's.
"...not to become investments..." That was their original intent.
"...Canadian Centennial rifles and carbines..." Too many made. 97395 total.
As mentioned there were 2 versions made. 10442 'Standard' models. 5100 'Members' models(has RCMP prefix to the S/N).
 
sunray said:
"...value will decrease..." About half. None are antiques or particularly old. Mind you, Winchester Commemoratives are only desired by collectors if they are still sealed in the original box. Even then you have to find somebody who wants it. Winchester Commemoratives are just gussied up 'stock' rifles. Even the non-.30-30's.
"...not to become investments..." That was their original intent.
"...Canadian Centennial rifles and carbines..." Too many made. 97395 total.
As mentioned there were 2 versions made. 10442 'Standard' models. 5100 'Members' models(has RCMP prefix to the S/N).
Click to expand...

I have seen a number of "Sealed in the box" winchester commemoratives that were damp rusted and pitted. The owner did not realize storing them in a damp basement would result in rust.
One of the local hardware store dealers had at least fifteen of these "sealed in box rifles". A gun trader purchased them for about $250.00 each.
 
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