Winchester 71 348

[daisygordoninc]

Does anyone have an idea about how many 71s originals are still in circulation? That might not be something
anyone could even guess at, I think about 41,000 were built. The price on most being offered is really up there,
I'm wondering if that is because they are becoming scarce. I know they were more expensive when they were
manufactured than other Winchester rifles, but still $3,000.00 for one seems really high. What say you guys?

[cshold]

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=61624

[tman]

Another option; a used Browning for less than 1/3 the price. Just as good, if not better than the original.

[arjunky]

3 grand gits you a pretty nice one. Browning way cheaper or well distinguished used winny.
Byron

[Sixgun]

Depends on what your level of satisfaction is........a browning is a Browning and a Winchester is a Winchester. Like Arjunky says, 3 g's will get you a very fine 71. I can pick them up all day long for in the upper teens..standards of course.-----6

[peter richards]

My deluxe 71 made in 1954 cost me $4,500 a few years back here in Australia. They are very nice, mine is too nice & I haven't been game to take it hunting yet.

[vancelw]

mine is too nice & I haven't been game to take it hunting yet.

That's just silly I sold a few guns that were too pretty to hunt with....and bought stuff I would actually use. Life is too short to keep "new" guns in the safe....

[AJMD429]

My deluxe 71 made in 1954 cost me $4,500 a few years back here in Australia.

...and I thought my Spike Driver was hugely expensive... I guess I've been playing in the Little League so far.

Still, sounds like a Winchester 71 is one of the all-time classics, and still practical and useful. Kind of like if you bought an original Duesenburg, but could still use it to commute to and from work. So I guess if it serves several roles well, it is worth the money.

Hard decision as to whether or not to "take it out in the rain" for a real hunting experience. Easy to take it on a gentleman's hunt, where it rides in padded-case, only to be taken out at the last minute, and only if weather permits, but taking a $4,500 piece of history out to get dings and nicks and so on does take guts. My 'motto' is (so far) that if I can afford to buy it, I should use it, but having said that I still keep my Spike Driver in a gun-sock when it is in the safe (the others go bare), and although I plan to take it stand-hunting for whitetail next year, if it is drizzling, I'll probably take the stainless/synthetic Ruger 77/44 instead. (The other difference is that my spensive levergun is just that - a modern, well-made, get-another-one-next-week if you've got the money, firearm, whereas actual Winchester 71's are no longer being made, and have lots of 'history' in them; their price/value will go up and up and up.)

[rbertalotto]

Life is too short to keep "new" guns in the safe....

For a collector, possession is 9/10...........Just owning them and fondling once in a while is enough.

I have an extensive collection of firearms I've never shot. Values keep rising. And on a snow bound day, nothing is better than a small glass of Jack Daniels, an oily rag, some Jen Murdza music in the bacvkground and a warm fire in the fireplace.............Can't do that with stocks and bonds or a savings account!

[tman]

Depends on what your level of satisfaction is........a browning is a Browning and a Winchester is a Winchester. Like Arjunky says, 3 g's will get you a very fine 71. I can pick them up all day long for in the upper teens..standards of course.-----6

I'm a hunter and shooter, so the Browning copies are a Godsend ,for me. If you got the bucks for an original, Game you shoot it with won't ask, and won't know the difference.

[AJMD429]

For a collector, possession is 9/10...........Just owning them and fondling once in a while is enough.

I have an extensive collection of firearms I've never shot. Values keep rising. And on a snow bound day, nothing is better than a small glass of Jack Daniels, an oily rag, some Jen Murdza music in the bacvkground and a warm fire in the fireplace.............Can't do that with stocks and bonds or a savings account!

Good point. I'd probably be listening to Rachmaninoff or Terje Rypdal though...

Lots of people have heard Rypdal's music, but don't realize it -
Many action/gun-oriented movie scores - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNqhZyb ... r_embedded

[6pt-sika]

Does anyone have an idea about how many 71s originals are still in circulation? That might not be something
anyone could even guess at, I think about 41,000 were built. The price on most being offered is really up there,
I'm wondering if that is because they are becoming scarce. I know they were more expensive when they were
manufactured than other Winchester rifles, but still $3,000.00 for one seems really high. What say you guys?

Sold one today that was a Deluxe LNIB made in 1953 for a good bit more then $3000 .

I also might add it was sold about $500 less then what I would have valued it had it been my rifle .

And the guys at "Perry County Guns" valued it to my customer at about $800 more then what I sold it for .