Winchester Model 94 help

[Shane9274]

Might be able to pick up a model 94 dated by serial number to be a 1926. There was some surface rust and missing rear sight. Looks like someone mounted a scope on the receiver but left the mount with a ghost sight on it. I cleaned up the surface rust and the bore is great. Any ideas what something like this would be worth? Wood is in great shape and a dark reddish color. Receiver has lost most of the bluing but barrel is still retained maybe 60-65% bluing. My friend had it passed down and it was sitting in the attic. I would like to buy it but not sure whats fair?

Also found was a Theodore Roosevelt Commemorative octagonal barrel Winchester 94 with brass receiver. That one is almost new with a few small spots of surface rust on barrel that was able to be removed. Any idea of value on one of those?

 

[George Dickel]

I can only speak about the Theodore Roosevelt model. As far as I have been able to find out the receiver should be nickel, there wasn't a factory original with a brass receiver. The rifles came in two barrel lengths, 20" and 26". I have this rifle with a 26" barrel I bought for shooting metallic silhouette and it works well. The long sight radius was what I was wanting when I bought the rifle. It was advertised as unfired but with no box. When I received it I felt that it was indeed unfired as there was no wear indicating it had been. I paid more for this rifle that what it was probably worth because I wanted it for silhouette as 94's with long barrels are hard to find. I believe it cost me around $650 delivered to me through my FFL. Unfired ones with box and all papers are being advertised on auction sites for between $800 and $1,000 but most of then don't sell for that price. I did a search of sold rifles and it ranged from $500 - $600. The rifle you are referencing should have stock a with a medallion with Roosevelt's face in it. The receiver will also have the words "26th President" and "1901 - 1909 on the left side. If it is a brass receiver it isn't a Roosevelt commemorative unless for some strange reason someone had the nickel plating removed and then brass plated.

 

[earlthegoat2]

That old codger is probably still worth 5-600. What cartridge? IME, in older ones like that, 32 gets a small premium. Any other cartridge than 30-30 gets a premium for that matter. 32 is probably the next most common though.

In a local shop, a 1930s model in 30-30 was for sale for $750 and sold after a few months. It was in similar condition but without any holes in it.

 

[Shane9274]

I can only speak about the Theodore Roosevelt model. As far as I have been able to find out the receiver should be nickel, there wasn't a factory original with a brass receiver. The rifles came in two barrel lengths, 20" and 26". I have this rifle with a 26" barrel I bought for shooting metallic silhouette and it works well. The long sight radius was what I was wanting when I bought the rifle. It was advertised as unfired but with no box. When I received it I felt that it was indeed unfired as there was no wear indicating it had been. I paid more for this rifle that what it was probably worth because I wanted it for silhouette as 94's with long barrels are hard to find. I believe it cost me around $650 delivered to me through my FFL. Unfired ones with box and all papers are being advertised on auction sites for between $800 and $1,000 but most of then don't sell for that price. I did a search of sold rifles and it ranged from $500 - $600. The rifle you are referencing should have stock a with a medallion with Roosevelt's face in it. The receiver will also have the words "26th President" and "1901 - 1909 on the left side. If it is a brass receiver it isn't a Roosevelt commemorative unless for some strange reason someone had the nickel plating removed and then brass plated.

 

[Shane9274]

That old codger is probably still worth 5-600. What cartridge? IME, in older ones like that, 32 gets a small premium. Any other cartridge than 30-30 gets a premium for that matter. 32 is probably the next most common though.

In a local shop, a 1930s model in 30-30 was for sale for $750 and sold after a few months. It was in similar condition but without any holes in it.

 

[PapaG]

That is an aperture sight, not a scope mount. Most Winchesters and Marlins are drilled for them at the factory, at least later ones.

 

[George Dickel]

The commemorative is a very easy shooting rifle. I shoot some stout loads in mine but that heavy 26" barrel really soaks up the recoil. It isn't one you would want to carry all day hunting. Metallic silhouette shooters like the longer barrel for the extra sight radius over a 20" model, so for me I was willing to pay for it. A hunter probably wouldn't pay as much for it if one even considered that rifle for hunting because of the weight. It looks to be in very nice condition. I think $500 would be a fair price for a no hassle sale vs trying to sell it on-line and probably not get much more than that for it. I'm coming from the aspect of a silhouette shooter rather than a hunter. If you can get it for less, great. Winchester made a huge number of commemorative rifles so they didn't appreciate in value like many hoped they would.