Model 64 value?

[Marc]

There is a Winchester Model 64 in 30 WCF available here that I am tempted to buy. The rifle was made in 1939. The mechanics are solid and it appears to have been fired very little. The bluing is good and only has a few worn spots on the corners of the receiver and the wear points on the lever and hammer. Very important to me is that the bore looks nearly perfect. In fact the rifle looks to have been lightly used. Unfortunately it has been heavily abused. The metal has more than its share of dings and scratches and buggered screw heads. The butt stock is badly cracked along the tang and can be wiggled side to side. The rest of the butt is good except for minor dings and scratches. If the cracks can be glued satisfactorily the butt will be acceptable to me but the cracks may be visible. The other major problem is that some wannabe blacksmith hammered the magazine tube into the receiver. The end of the tube is mushroomed and misshapen. To add insult to injury the clown also owned a pliers in addition to the hammer and put pliers marks in the end of the tube and the plug. The magazine ring is beat up and bent but I think it can be saved. It either needs a new tube or the old tube needs to be cut off at the front and lengthened at the back which is probably what I would do since the patina would match that way.

The rifle can be had for $500. I am an advanced gun tinkerer so I would be able to repair everything myself. I am really tempted to go for this because it is a mechanically solid and lightly used rifle with an excellent bore. In my experience good bores are hard to find even in newer rifles. The butt stock is the major deficit as I can't tell if it is repairable. I could repair the magazine tube or replace it cheaply. What say you? Is it worth $500?

[bogus bill]

I dont know either, but I have this almost unfired one. It was unfired when I bought it for $200 back in about 1971. I belive it was made in 1952. I finaly tried it out last year. I have a old 94 I bought new in the early 50s so have been leaveing this one alone. I also bought a new 64 in the 70s just like it that they made for a few years again but sold that one. My dad bought one in .32 from a hunter in the field that missed a buck with it for $50! I would think I could get $1,500 or more for this one. Its only got less than a box through it. What do you think?

[Marc]

Very nice! I have been looking at gunbroker and asking prices are up there. I don't know what selling prices are. I do know that the few I have seen at the gunshows have been $800 and up. The one I am looking at is really a nice rifle except for the buggery. Makes me sick!

[jonboy 69]

i would pass, your $500 will go a long way towards a better one. on a good day you can find a decent 64 for $800-$950 (i think, haven't looked in a while). i guess if you like to tinker go for it but parts and time are not cheap either. i usually hold out for the better original guns, seems worth it in the long run.

[Griff]

Questionable with that much work needed. But, if you enjoy "tinkerin'" as you describe it, then I'd go for it. With such low cost repairs, you're probably still within the value of the rifle in that condition. A new mag tube, and mag tube hanger are available from a couple of sources at reasonable costs, so I wouldn't worry if your's are too far gone to repair. But... on the other hand, if the price were to go up, or you had to send it out to have the repairs professionally done, I don't think it'd be a worthy investment.

But... if you just HAVE TO HAVE a mdl 64, then...????

[rangerider7]

+jonboy 69 Save your money and buy a better one. $500 is to much for one in that shape and when you got it fixed up it would still be worth $500. IMHO

[buckeyeshooter]

bogus Bill--------- I know you can get $1500 for that one, its sweeeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttttt!!!!