Winchester 71 Price Check UPDATE POST 23

lilsurfer

lilsurfer

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Southern Ontario
Looking at purchasing this Winchester 71 locally (not on the EE). I am wondering what's a fair value on this gun and if there are any issues with it from what you can see in the picture. It looks to me like the stock has been cut to accommodate the recoil pad (or did somebody just put the sling swivel too close to the butt?) Also it is missing the front sight hood. Wood and bluing look original but others might know better. I would really like a 71 as a shooter but want to pay a fair price. I realize the buttpad means it isn't a collector but what is its value as a shooter in the current market? Thanks to those who reply.
 
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Looks like a decent example. Finish looks original at least in the photo(not great). In my area that rifle would go for $1000-$1200. Some examples I have seen lately that are well worn or modified from factory original are a little over priced at least to me.
 
Mike Webb said:
Looks like a decent example. Finish looks original at least in the photo(not great). In my area that rifle would go for $1000-$1200. Some examples I have seen lately that are well worn or modified from factory original are a little over priced at least to me.
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I agree with you. I have been looking around for a while now and notice a lot of non-original examples going for $1200 + which I thought was rich but they seem to be selling. That is why I am lost on the value. Don't know if the stock was cut or not though. Also don't know whether the peep is original or worth anything. He has the original leather sling apparently, but I didn't think the standard grades came with slings from the factory.
 
71s have been escalating greatly of late, I've seen FAIR ones going for 12-1500 and good ones are over 2K. Although the recoil pad should decrease the price to $7-800 it doesn't seem to and these shooters in nice condition like this one, are commanding big bucks, well over the 1K mark. The price of the new ones I think are driving the values up, if you're going to pay 1200 for a Miroku as a shooter then some say one might as well pay 12-1500 for an altered original as a shooter.
 
lilsurfer said:
I agree with you. I have been looking around for a while now and notice a lot of non-original examples going for $1200 + which I thought was rich but they seem to be selling. That is why I am lost on the value. Don't know if the stock was cut or not though. Also don't know whether the peep is original or worth anything. He has the original leather sling apparently, but I didn't think the standard grades came with slings from the factory.
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Shouldn't the original steel buttplate have that little spur on top that extends towards the comb?
If it hasn't been cut I would think it would still be inletted there. Or you could ask one of the guys on here with an original to measure his length of pull and compare it with yours.
The peep is probably a Lyman and all later 71's were factory drilled for one. The sight is probably worth $100 at least but if I were buying the rifle I would use the peep.
Far superior to the factory sights in my opinion.
 
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As Mike Webb suggested,

Length of pull 13 1/4''
Middle of sling swivels to end of wood 2 1/2''
I doubt that the stock was cut, I think someone added the sling swivel afterwards.

Keep in mind that on special orders Winchester could have added swivels or different buttpads.

OK
 
okcorral1881 said:
As Mike Webb suggested,

Length of pull 13 1/4''
Middle of sling swivels to end of wood 2 1/2''
I doubt that the stock was cut, I think someone added the sling swivel afterwards.

Keep in mind that on special orders Winchester could have added swivels or different buttpads.

OK
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Thanks OK. That is something I didn't consider. The buttpad could have be factory installed. The seller said it comes with the original sling which suggests the swivels were there from the factory. These could have been extra options as you mentioned.
 
I bought my standard, unaltered in about 85% conditiong for $2k. It was only expensive when I had to pay for it. But now it's mine.
 
Don't discount it for the recoil pad until you research it. There are 2 or 3 different ones that were factory installed. Those stocks were not inletted for the pad. It may have had a factory installed pad that has been replaced. The rear sight looks like a factory 98a bolt peep sight. To buy one (if you could find one) would run over $300. Reproductions about 1/2 that.
I don't think Slooshark1 was out of line for paying $2k for his.
 
superspeed348 said:
Don't discount it for the recoil pad until you research it. There are 2 or 3 different ones that were factory installed. Those stocks were not inletted for the pad. It may have had a factory installed pad that has been replaced. The rear sight looks like a factory 98a bolt peep sight. To buy one (if you could find one) would run over $300. Reproductions about 1/2 that.
I don't think Slooshark1 was out of line for paying $2k for his.
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It is a Williams Foolproof sight according to the seller. Were these factory-installed? If this sight is not factory, does this mean that there are extra holes in the receiver?
 
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lilsurfer said:
Did a little research and it looks like the Williams was not a factory option but an aftermarket ad-on. This sight fits in the factory holes though.
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Correct, I put one on mine.
As you said they are made to fit the factory holes, I also have a Redfield and a Lyman peep for mine.
I bought an aftermarket bolt peep as well but the bolt has to be modified before it would fit.
 
The 71s could have been special ordered with a Lyman 56 (later 66) or a Redfield receiver sight. Can't remember the code, I sold my last one. Still not sure why I did that. Your sight was added later. but no big deal, just went into the factory holes.
The sling eyes could have been special ordered too, but they - including the front nose cap with sling eye - could also be ordered aftermarket and added later. An old copy of one of my Stoeger books has them for sale in it. It is difficult to tell for sure from the photo, but the front sling eye does not "look" like the 71 sling eye, but the more traditional one. Gun too far away in photo to see for sure, it may be the correct one. A close up photo would tell.
Hard to tell about the buttpad without a good look at the fit. All in all though, nice gun, I'm sure you will be happy with it if you pick it up. They are one of my favorites. I carry one each fall and always look forward to it. No pressure to buy eh??
Matt
 
Matt74 said:
The 71s could have been special ordered with a Lyman 56 (later 66) or a Redfield receiver sight. Can't remember the code, I sold my last one. Still not sure why I did that. Your sight was added later. but no big deal, just went into the factory holes.
The sling eyes could have been special ordered too, but they - including the front nose cap with sling eye - could also be ordered aftermarket and added later. An old copy of one of my Stoeger books has them for sale in it. It is difficult to tell for sure from the photo, but the front sling eye does not "look" like the 71 sling eye, but the more traditional one. Gun too far away in photo to see for sure, it may be the correct one. A close up photo would tell.
Hard to tell about the buttpad without a good look at the fit. All in all though, nice gun, I'm sure you will be happy with it if you pick it up. They are one of my favorites. I carry one each fall and always look forward to it. No pressure to buy eh??
Matt
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Oh I don't need any coercion! The guns a couple hours away and I am going to go check it out in a couple of weeks. If everything checks out I'll be taking it. I'll post some pics when I get it home to determine about the recoil pad and sling swivels originality. Thanks alot for the info in the meantime.
 
2.5

2.5" to wood to center swivel on mine as well.
I know mine is not special order because the recoil pad rubber is stamped,"Livermore Sporting Goods Los Angeles California". It also has further fine print that reads,"Pachymar Custom" imbossed into the rubber. Possibly period correct but certainly not factory optional.
I haven't fired mine anymore than a 10 times in the past 15 years, but I'm thinking that recoil pad is really good idea. The recoil is seemingly less subtle than my 7mm.
If and when I decide to part with mine, I'm thinking $1200 is very fair price for a rifle of 90% + wood & bluing, complete with peep minus original butt plate.
 
M70-338 said:
2.5" to wood to center swivel on mine as well.
I know mine is not special order because the recoil pad rubber is stamped,"Livermore Sporting Goods Los Angeles California". It also has further fine print that reads,"Pachymar Custom" imbossed into the rubber. Possibly period correct but certainly not factory optional.
I haven't fired mine anymore than a 10 times in the past 15 years, but I'm thinking that recoil pad is really good idea. The recoil is seemingly less subtle than my 7mm.
If and when I decide to part with mine, I'm thinking $1200 is very fair price for a rifle of 90% + wood & bluing, complete with peep minus original butt plate.
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It's hard to tell from that picture but it doesn't look like 2.5 from the swivel to the end of the wood on this one. I am wondering if the stock has been cut. But I would have to measure LOP to be sure. Would I be correct in assuming that if the recoil pad on the one I am looking at says anything other than "Winchester" on it that it is not factory?
 
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