Win Model 70 pre 64 .264 mag Featherweight

[WYcoyote]

Anyone have any opinion on the collector's potential of this variation?
It is a pre-64 model 70 Winchester Featherweight Westerner in .264 Win mag with a 22" barrel.
According to Roger Rule's book, The Rifleman's Rifle, only 3116 were made.
The .264 in a 22" pipe has to be quite a blaster, but still a unique combination, even though not ideal.
Looking at one not so much as a shooter, but a collectable.
Input anybody?

 

[W.E.G.]

This guy thinks his is worth at least $2300.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=174067739

zero bids

 

[WYcoyote]

Not the same gun, it has the 26" barrel.
The one I'm looking at is a true Featherweight with a 22" tube.

 

[WYcoyote]

Example...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=173147244

 

[W.E.G.]

OK, so be liberal about it, and add a couple hundred dollars - assuming you can find the buyer who just HAS TO HAVE IT.

Put it on Gunbroker for double what your wet-dream sale price is, and see how much interest it generates. If there is somebody out there who has been looking for that gun all his life, and who is really willing to spend that kind of money, you'll hear from him.

 

[WYcoyote]

You mistake my intentions, I'm looking at buying one at a gun show.
Not too interested in price estimates, but value in 10-20 years.

 

[LeonCarr]

Who cares about collector value? That rifle is begging to be shot. The .264 is a long range death ray on anything up to Elk. Get one, shoot it, shoot it some more.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[SwampWolf]

Ballistically, the .270 Winchester cartridge is the equivalent of a .264 Winchester Magnum rifle that has the 22" barrel. If the rifle is being purchased without regard to collector's value, a Model 70 chambered in .270 would be a lot less expensive and would shoot much cheaper and more easily found ammunition. But the op made it clear that he's interested in the "collector's potential of this variant" and, accordingly, to answer his question, the 23rd edition of the "Blue Book" makes no practical difference in value between the standard Model 70 with the 26" barrel and the Featherweight version with the 22" barrel; both being valued @ about $1,100.00 in excellent condition. My regular attendance at numerous gunshows would have me put the value more at $1,500.00 or so.

 

[WYcoyote]

Who cares about collector value? That rifle is begging to be shot. The .264 is a long range death ray on anything up to Elk. Get one, shoot it, shoot it some more.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

You are probably right Leon, the gun has already had a scope on it at one time, and not in perfect condition.
I don't think shooting it will hurt it any.
I do however have a pre-64 M70 .300 H&H in eyepopping shape, and altho I shot a buffalo with it (under fairly controlled circumstances), I'm giving it a respectful retirement. 61 years old.
I do care about collector value some.

 

[W.E.G.]

You mistake my intentions, I'm looking at buying one at a gun show.
Not too interested in price estimates, but value in 10-20 years.

In 10-20 years, the dollar-value of that gun will probably be worth about the same as what you pay for it today.

Which, with inflation, means you will probably lose money on your investment.

Of course, you can sit on it, and try to sell it in twenty years for whatever price you want to ask for it. You never know. That magical buyer might just appear --- or he might not.

In twenty years you might not even be allowed to transfer that gun.

 

[Runningman]

Win Model 70 pre 64 .264 mag Featherweight

Umm, Weren't those the ones with barrel bursting issues?

 

[WYcoyote]

In 10-20 years, the dollar-value of that gun will probably be worth about the same as what you pay for it today.

Which, with inflation, means you will probably lose money on your investment.

Of course, you can sit on it, and try to sell it in twenty years for whatever price you want to ask for it. You never know. That magical buyer might just appear --- or he might not.

In twenty years you might not even be allowed to transfer that gun.

I wish my Wall Street stocks would match the % return of my "gun" stocks.
I have a lot more faith in them than the rest of our economy lately.
But that's what elections are for.