WinchesterOwners.com

Don't know where to start. I have inherited "by marriage" a very old Model 1894. The serial number is 79019 which I think puts it in the 1897 manufacture ballpark. It is a saddle ring 30 w.c.f. The gun is not very pretty, but is not damaged either. Lever action appears smooth to me. HOW do I go about determining a fair value for it and how do I then go about selling it from my home in Minnesota?

Welcome to the Winchester Owners Forum clojacks !!

Leave the firearm in original condition and open an account on Gun Broker or Guns America

http://www.gunbroker.com/

http://www.gunsamerica.com/

clojacks wrote:Don't know where to start. I have inherited "by marriage" a very old Model 1894. The serial number is 79019 which I think puts it in the 1897 manufacture ballpark. It is a saddle ring 30 w.c.f. The gun is not very pretty, but is not damaged either. Lever action appears smooth to me. HOW do I go about determining a fair value for it and how do I then go about selling it from my home in Minnesota?

I'm not an expert but I would think that a rifle such as the one that you describe would be quite a find and be highly desirable in "collector" circles. That rifle has some value!

Additionally, since you stated that you've inherited it "by marriage" there just might be some question as to who the legal owner actually is. The age of this gun leads me to believe that it could be a family heirloom and perhaps meant to stay in the family (that meaning your spouse's family)! I would proceed with caution and more importantly permission of your spouse and perhaps even your in-laws.

Bottom line, it's not your gun! Just sayin'.
Sleeper

The Number of 790xx sounded a little high to me for it to be an 1897 model. I just checked the chart quick and it looks like it's a 1916.

Still should be one that attracts "collector" value though.

--EDIT: The above info is wrong. The correct Date is 1897--

Bill

Cowboy Gun Fan wrote:The Number of 790xx sounded a little high to me for it to be an 1897 model. I just checked the chart quick and it looks like it's a 1916.

Still should be one that attracts "collector" value though.

Bill

Thanks Bill, but unless I am reading this chart incorrectly, it definitely looks like my Model 94 was manufactured in at latest, 1897, which qualifies it as an antique I believe.
http://www.winchesterguns.com/support/f ... uments.pdf

Thanks Sleeper. Actually, my wife would just as soon that we got rid of all the "old" guns we have. I have also have an old (1908 manufacture) Model 1897 pump 12 Gauge and a couple of very old handguns, but for now, I'm just focusing on try to figure out how to price and proceed with the '94. I appreciate the info on NOT trying to improve its condition as well.

Hey clojacks.......I have a 1940 model 97. Top of my pride list.

clojacks wrote:Thanks Bill, but unless I am reading this chart incorrectly, it definitely looks like my Model 94 was manufactured in at latest, 1897, which qualifies it as an antique I believe.
http://www.winchesterguns.com/support/f ... uments.pdf

You are Correct !!

I goofed one digit, lol.

I was going by 6 digits and you only have 5.

Sorry about the confusion.

Bill

I sold one not so long ago, collector bought it from me for $700, it was an 1897 SRC, (refinished by a previous owner) it was I'd say... in fair condition. Prices for the pre-1900 guns should be determined by an appraiser, the can vary between hundreds to many thousands depending on rarity of the rifle's features like sights etc. Price is based mainly on condition, and unaltered rifles get the best dollar, even if they are not as pretty as a refinished one.

I took my 1897 manufactured model 1894 in to a pretty well known local dealer for a looksee and was given what I feel was a very low ball offer or "quote". He said that in its condition he would only offer me about $300 or $400, which to me sounded way out of line with what I had been seeing or hearing. I was being led to believe it would possibly bring much more than that due to its age, regardless of condition, which honestly, is really not that bad. The stock is in very good shape. The barrel and receiver look their age, but not like they have been abused either. How do I go about selling this thing? Please understand that I have absolutely no knowledge of how to sell a firearm like this as far as regulations or practices go.

I've tried to add pics of it a couple of times, but I keep getting a "file too large message". Do I have to retake my pics at a lower resolution or is there a way to add them as shot?

Either that... or you can use this free image hosting site...to shrink and modify your original shots:

http://www.photobucket.com

Here is a couple of pics of my model 1894 manufactured in 1897.

A couple more....

Shooter13, you had mentioned trying to sell them on gunbrokers.com or gunsamerica.com once I establish a price. Is it difficult to sell or set up a sale on either of them? Have you had favorable price experience on one over the other? I see you are a moderator. I hope my questions to you don't violate board rules at all....