Gold plated commemorative Winchester 94 -- to shoot or not to shoot?

[henschman]

Howdy. I am the owner of a Winchester 94 National Cowboy Hall of Fame Tribute Rifle, one of 300 made, which is gold plated and engraved with some very nice detail. It is this rifle here: http://www.americaremembers.com/Products/NCHFTRI/NCHFTRI.asp

This rifle was given to me by my grandpa when I was a teenager, somewhere around the year 2000. He also gave one to my cousin. So far, the rifle has been stored for all of its life and has never been fired. I still have the original plastic case, cloth sleeve, manual, and even the set of white gloves it came with. Now here's the deal: I am a shooter, not a collector. I consider all of my other firearms to be tools, and I do not like the idea of having a perfectly good serviceable rifle that just hangs on a wall or stays in storage, and is never shot.

I am considering getting this rifle out and shooting it, maybe mounting a Lyman aperture sight (it came with mounting holes from the factory) and a sling. I just wanted to see whether you guys think it would be too much of a sacrilege to shoot something like this. I'm sure it has a higher theoretical value if it is in new, unfired condition, but how much of a market is there for these tribute rifles anyway? Is there anybody who actually collects these? Honestly, its monetary value is kind of a moot point, since I don't think I will ever be getting rid of it -- if for no other reason than that my family would kill me. I also would like to keep it to remember my grandpa -- he is still with us, but is pretty old and probably won't be around too much longer. He is partly responsible for me getting into shooting when I was younger, so it would be a nice way to remember him, and it would make a nice heirloom to pass down to my offspring.

However, I don't see how it would be any less valuable as a memento and an heirloom if it was shot. In fact, I'm thinking it might be better to have some good memories and stories connected with it, like killing some deer and hogs, and having some good times on the range with my future children. That is how I am currently leaning. Convince me I am wrong.

 

[bigedp51]

My Grandfather is gone and I didn't get any of his firearms.

Hang it on the wall, leave it there and you will think of him every day.

 

[Motega]

...until someone sees a valuable gun on your wall, breaks in and steals it.

Look on Gunbroker, Winchester did a lot of "1 of 300" tributes ranging in value from $300 to $2000 (what's up there NOW I have no idea what yours is worth) ... ask yourself what you think he would want you to do with it. Was he a collector or a shooter? I don't think this is ever going to be worth tens of thousands of dollars, and I also don't think bringing it to the range a few times a year (maybe on his birthday or something?) and carefully shooting it is going to decrease its value. All guns are fired before they leave the factory. Several times. No one is going to be able to tell whether it has 5 or 200 rounds through it if you take care to keep it clean and avoid damaging it.
In any case, putting it on the wall would be a dumb idea in my parts and there is a better chance that someone will eventually knock it off the wall or something will damage it out, then if you shoot in once in a while and leave it in the safe.

 

[CMUnderWoody]

SHOOT IT!
I'm with you, I collect guns for a reason. Hanging them on a mantle is not the reason. I would have to agree with motega in that you would probably do more harm protecting it that shooting it. Either way, that is a very nice rifle and I hope whatever you do decide to do with it, honors your grandfather's memory brings a smile to your face.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Shoot it

Winchester made so dang many "special" and "limited" edition 94's that none of them are truly special at all.

I'd shoot the pee out of it, however I might not go hunting with it on a rainy day in a grown up swamp either.

 

[slowr1der]

I'd personally just hang onto it and not shoot it, but that's just me. It's not like you can't buy another Winchester 30-30 for $300 used that you can shoot and it won't matter.

 

[M-Cameron]

as a general rule...i say shoot it......

however, any gun that comes with its own pair of white handling gloves is usually better off not being shot..

 

[dewalt-2]

Do what you want. I have no use for firearms I don't shoot. It would look great sitting over the fireplace mantle, but make sure you service it on a regular basis.

 

[Jim Watson]

but how much of a market is there for these tribute rifles anyway?

My impression is, not much. Even a factory commemorative will not sell better or for more than a standard model NIB.

You won't hurt my feelings by shooting it.

A friend here shot one of the Canadian commemorative .30-30s regularly and it did very well.

 

[dfariswheel]

Winchester didn't make these as commemoratives.
They made the basic rifles which were then engraved and converted to commemoratives by America Remembers.
Commemoratives actually made by a gun company like Winchester or Colt usually have a higher value then second party commemoratives.

The value of any commemorative is based on it being absolutely NEW in the box with all papers and anything else that was included when it was new.

The America Remembers Winchester Cowboy Hall of Fame models is currently listed at $1895.
ONE SHOT and the value plummets.

My suggestion, before lowering the value, sell it.

 

[LOLBELL]

I would shoot it. A gun you can't shoot is usless. I have one 22 that I don't shoot because it is dangerous. Sometimes when you lower the bolt it goes off. My father who is now passed away left me that rifle which was left to him by his father. When my time comes I will leave it to my son, in an unfireable condition. If it was repairable I would shoot it with my sons, but since it's not it enjoys a life of retirement in the safe.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Value is only what you can get someone to pay

You try getting $2k for a pimped Winchester 94 in today's market and see how far you get. As a part time internet dealer for a local shop I can tell you first hand that the market for non firing commemoratives has never been more abyssmal. These are essentially dirt common guns with NO intrinsic collectability dolled up by a third party to force an aura of rarity that otherwise doesn't exist.

Besides as an heirloom the gun is essentially worthless from a monetary standpoint. Since market value would only come into play if the OP was looking to SELL grandpaws heirloom.


Properly cared for you can shoot the thing to your hearts content and it'll still be around 100yrs from now. Don't worry about value cause only a slimeball would sell grandpappys hand me down and if some less than upstanding descendant decides to sell than the depreciation will serve em right

Tapatalk post via IPhone.

 

[CMUnderWoody]

^^^^ ditto.

Its probably worth way more to you and your family than anyone else would ever give you for it. Keep it, Shoot it, and then restart the cycle by passing it on to yours

 

[shiftyer1]

I would shoot it, mostly because my grandfather wouldn't understand keeping a gun around to look at.

What kind of man was he? Did he collect things for value or because he liked it? In my case grandpa would have bought something like that for me because it was the prettyest one they had and he was handing it down to his grandson.

I understand keeping something in original unfired condition especially commemerative's I just don't have the self control to do so.

 

[ShroomFish]

I have a gold plated 94' and honestly the one I have (currently un-shot) is worth about $300.. Winchester made so many different "Gold Plated 94's" that it is almost sickening...

But since your granddad gave you that one (my granddad also gave the the one I have) I'd say either baby it, or do with it as your granddad would do

 

[BADUNAME37]

I would use it and enjoy it.

I don't have a museum here at my house!

Everything I have gets used, if it is not used, then I have no use for it to begin with!

I would work up a really nice load or two or three for that baby and enjoy every second of carrying it hunting and shooting it at the range to test my loads!

 

[Picher]

If you use it and pass it down to your son, it will have more intrinsic value and he'll feel able to use it as well. If you don't shoot it, he'll have the same decision to make as you do, but it may be twice as hard for him, because it would be an unfired gun from his grandfather that his father didn't dare shoot.

I'd probably shoot it, unless I really needed, but couldn't afford to have a different gun for long-time and extensive use. Then, I'd seriously consider selling/trading it for one that fits my shooting needs. Tell your wife about the need for a gun and ask whether you should sell it. She'll probably say to buy the other rifle and not sell or use the "heirloom". Guilt is gone, and you get what you need. Works for me!

 

[madcratebuilder]

The value of any commemorative is based on it being absolutely NEW in the box with all papers and anything else that was included when it was new.

The America Remembers Winchester Cowboy Hall of Fame models is currently listed at $1895.
ONE SHOT and the value plummets.

My suggestion, before lowering the value, sell it.

THIS!

If you would rather have a shooter, sell the commemorative model and find a shooter or two you like. It would be a gift from your grandfather.

 

[henschman]

Several of you guys have said pretty much what I have been thinking... when those Winchester 94s were still in production, it seemed like every time I opened an NRA magazine a new limited edition commemorative rifle was being advertised. Sure they only sold a few hundred per run, but there must be tens of thousands of commemoratives out there. An attempt to "force an aura of rarity" sounds about right. And while my grandpa paid $1600 for the rifle from America Remembers, and it is currently listed at $1800, I seriously doubt it would realistically bring anywhere near those numbers. I bet I couldn't get too much more for it than I could for any other mint condition Model 94; gold plated or not. Hell, I bet a pre-64 in good shape would bring more than this. I doubt I could get $600 for it if I put it on armslist or took it to a gun show right now.

You know, I have a gold Rolex that I wear almost every day (also given to me by by grandpa), and though it inevitably gets some surface scratches, it is still beautiful. There are other lawyers I work with who have been wearing their gold watches for 40 years or more and they are still beautiful. I imagine this rifle would be the same. Also there are custom double rifles that are many times fancier, more ornate, and more valuable than this that people take out into the brush and use for their intended purpose.

I have seen a lot of posts from people who love their lever action .30-30s, and I have heard that a Model 94 is a joy to hunt with. I have never experienced this myself, and it is probably a type of rifle I would not otherwise buy.

I figure if I'm going to shoot and use it, it needs a sling; and if I'm already going to destroy it's collector's value, I might as well drill the buttstock for a sling stud. I could get some beater wood for it to drill on, but then I would just be wrapping up the original wood and putting it in storage; whereas if I leave the fancy carved furniture on there, I can enjoy it every time I get the rifle out. It looks like Williams is the only one who makes a good receiver mount aperture sight for the Angle Eject model, so I'll probably get one of those too.

 

[longdayjake]

It's not like you can't buy another Winchester 30-30 for $300 used that you can shoot and it won't matter.

Yeah right.

 

[hboy35]

think long before pulling the trigger

I might be inclined to shoot it it I had spent time with my grandfather shooting it before he died. However, if it was given to me unfired and grandpa and I never get out and shot it, then I would not shoot it.

It is a foolish thought and poor advice that says there is no difference in value/price in an unfired Winchester, commemorative or not, versus a used one--and once you shoot it, it is used in my opinion.

 

[stonecutter2]

Yeah right.

That's about what I paid for one last November. Some cosmetic issues, but perfect bore and shoots wonderfully.

 

[tkcomer]

Shoot it. I shoot my Golden Spike my dad left me: http://www.pixagogo.com/5654974321

 

[dirtyjim]

shooting a commemorative will not lower the value enough to make any difference.

i have a unfired & papered type 2 national match garand that will remain unfired as long as i own it, but it was bought as an investment and shooting it would take it from being a $5000 gun to a $3500 gun in one afternoon. if i'm going to lose that much money in one day with nothing to show for it i'll lose it on booze & hookers

 

[xplag]

Screw safe queens...

Guns should do their purpose, no matter how pretty they are. Unless you have something super sentimental or ammo is too expensive, take it out and have fun. Just my 2 cents though.