Model 94 Commemorative, Odd SN?

[XFriday]

Afternoon all,

I have a winchester model 94, commemorative edition. It is the "Klondike Commemorative." The receiver has etching that says "The Great Gold Strike 1896" on one side, and "Bonanza, Eldorado, Hunker Creek" on the other. There is a "gold coin" insert in the stock, which says "Klondike Gold Rush, the Chilkoot pass."

The serial number on the unit starts with KGR. I was under the impression that serial numbers for the commemorative models started with either MP or RCMP, depending on whether or not they were RCMP or civilian models. Am I mistaken on this? KGR obviously stands for Klondike Gold Rush..

Thanks.

 

[popcan]

I am a total rookie at these things, I'm just getting sucked into it myself...

But I believe all the commemoratives had special serial #'s outside the regular production numbers to make them more identifiable. The prefix, as you noted, points to the edition it belongs to.

The true experts will be along shortly no doubt.

 

[cityhunter]

how do you like your comm 94 ?? i just purchased one myself.....

Do you hunt with it ??

 

[XFriday]

It's gorgeous. Nice wood, nice finishing. It's a classy looking gun, no doubt.

Funny story to it. My grandfather gave it to me, years and years ago. At the time, I was not into hunting or shooting. A few years ago, I got the bug.. I pulled it out a year or two ago and thought "what the hell, I am going to shoot it." I mentioned this to my father, who is not a hunter, and he was quite concerned that I would kill the value of it if I fired it. I told him I would rather shoot it and enjoy it - no fun sitting in a box or on a wall.

I have not shot it yet, so it is still unfired and like new.. but I do intend on hunting with it.

 

[SDC]

Each of the commemoratives would've had their own serial number prefixes; the Klondike Gold Rush commemmorative has a "KGR" prefix, the Alaska Purchase commemorative has an "AP" prefix, and so on. Only the RCMP commemmoratives have an "MP" or "RCMP" prefix.

 

[XFriday]

Ahh I see. I thought that there were RCMP models of ALL the commemoratives. Your explanation clarifies that. Thanks much!

 

[cityhunter]

It's gorgeous. Nice wood, nice finishing. It's a classy looking gun, no doubt.

Funny story to it. My grandfather gave it to me, years and years ago. At the time, I was not into hunting or shooting. A few years ago, I got the bug.. I pulled it out a year or two ago and thought "what the hell, I am going to shoot it." I mentioned this to my father, who is not a hunter, and he was quite concerned that I would kill the value of it if I fired it. I told him I would rather shoot it and enjoy it - no fun sitting in a box or on a wall.

I have not shot it yet, so it is still unfired and like new.. but I do intend on hunting with it.

Nice !

Yeah my apache is NIB also and looks amazing ... I just hope it performs as it should .. I love that its so small and light ! Feels like a toy gun in my arms !

 

[Rembo]

I have a Canadian Centennial Win'94 and it has a serial number very different from other '94's of the same era...no prefix letters though...

 

[NAA]

Each of the commemoratives would've had their own serial number prefixes; the Klondike Gold Rush commemmorative has a "KGR" prefix, the Alaska Purchase commemorative has an "AP" prefix, and so on. Only the RCMP commemmoratives have an "MP" or "RCMP" prefix.

Agree... I have 3 commemorative Winchester .30-30's.. a Legendary Lawmen, a Bat Masterson and a Cowboy. Their serial numbers are prefixed "LL", "BM" and "CB" respectively... 8)

Personally, I only like the commemoratives that are 'silver' finish and in .30-30. Must also have a saddle ring. All are 'shooters', too. No 'wall hangers' for me. :lol:

NAA.

 

[JP]

- The problem with Commemoratives is to be a collector's items they must remain UNFIRED, the original box and all papers must be also preserved. Brake the rules and your guns loose 50% or more of its collector's value, once it is fired its just another one of the millions of used 94's out there!

- Its your property and you can do as you please with it, but remember sometimes a Father does know best!

 

[NAA]

- The problem with Commemoratives is to be a collector's items they must remain UNFIRED, the original box and all papers must be also preserved. Brake the rules and your guns loose 50% or more of its collector's value, once it is fired its just another one of the millions of used 94's out there!

- Its your property and you can do as you please with it, but remember sometimes a Father does know best!

That don't worry me a bit. I paid 'shooter' prices for each of mine. I bought 'em to shoot 'em & that's what I'm going to do. Shoot 'em, shoot 'em lots. Down the road I don't care if I get 'collector' value from them or not. If I look after 'em I bet I can always get 'shooter' $$ out of 'em. But I have no intention of selling any of them anyway.

 

[JP]

Once they are fired even once the harm has been done, its all downhill from there. Not trying to preach, just trying to explain the very fickle world of collecting and Antiques.

 

[sunray]

"...Once they are fired..." Once the box is opened the value drops significantly. Even then there isn't much collector value to them now. Too many of each flavour made. In any case, there's nothing special about them other than the finish and S/N prefix.

 

[NAA]

Once they are fired even once the harm has been done, its all downhill from there. Not trying to preach, just trying to explain the very fickle world of collecting and Antiques.

There's 'collector' prices and 'shooter' prices. If you get them for 'shooter' prices [i.e. very reasonable] & keep them in excellent condition you should be able to get most of your money back out of 'em if you ever want to sell them. At least the commemoratives were made prior to the stupid cross-bolt safety being factory installed on the more modern '94's. I don't have any illusions about mine being 'collector's items' or retaining any 'special value' as winchester commemoratives. I bought 'em to shoot & that's what I'm doing with them. Plain & simple. Heck, if it's get's to that, they might even make great tomatoe stakes one day, too. :wink: :lol:

 

[Hitzy]

My rule of thumb is don't collect shooters and don't shoot collectors...... :lol:
I think if you bought and kept one of those winchester commemoratives in unfired condition, mabey in 100 years there would be significant interest in it to generate a profit.......... :wink:

 

[Urban]

<333 !!!!!
My dream gun!
<3 <3 <3

 

[NAA]

My rule of thumb is don't collect shooters and don't shoot collectors...... :lol:
I think if you bought and kept one of those winchester commemoratives in unfired condition, mabey in 100 years there would be significant interest in it to generate a profit.......... :wink:

Yeah, but in 100 years... "all new people". :shock:

I say shoot 'em now & enjoy 'em for what they were designed & built for.... 'shooting'....

 

[huntinstuff]

I have a Win 94 John Wayne carbine in 32special......unfired and I hope to keep it that way......its my only commemorative that I put a special value on......the others are nice but eventually they will get shot im sure

 

[popcan]

.....the others are nice but eventually they will get shot im sure

...... I know of at least one of them that will be shot for sure.... :wink:



...I have a couple of pieces that are "special" for one reason or another... but I haven't quite got my head around the concept of collecting yet. Maybe I don't have the right definition of a "collection".

To me, collecting feels like either hoarding, or investing. Firearms - for me at least, don't fall into either category. All mine are bought to be used for a reason. Maybe some don't get used much, but they're all good to go.

If anyone makes a buck off them after I'm gone, then fine.

 

[NAA]

I have a Win 94 John Wayne carbine in 32special......unfired and I hope to keep it that way......its my only commemorative that I put a special value on......the others are nice but eventually they will get shot im sure

Hey, I thought the John Wayne commemorative was in .32-40 [which along with .38-55 were the first two ctgs that the Win 1894 was introduced in]? :?