Pre 1899 Winchester 94 antiques value

[daisygordoninc]

How much is a good Pre 1899 Winchester 94 with the Cody letter worth?
And how important is it that it is completely original?

[3855]

It is impossible to estimate value without an accurate and detailed description of condition. Detailed pictures would be much better.

If the rifle has been altered in any way from original condition, collector value typically falls way off.

The Cody letter offers little value other than maybe the cost of the letter itself. To members of the museum, a quick phone call to the museum provides the same information.

[jdad]

If it's all original, but in "shooter" grade condition, that part of the market has been falling from it peak several years ago. It includes Marlin's also. If it's a "high condition", then that part of the market has held pretty stable especially for legal "antiques".

Fairly high condition Marlin http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =354982703

Shooter grade Winchester 1892, but with a special order barrel. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =355170360

Like 38/55 said, without photos it's just an uninformed guess.

[Pete44ru]

How much is a good Pre 1899 Winchester 94 with the Cody letter worth?
And how important is it that it is completely original?

As in real estate, where it's all about 3 things: location, location, and location; with collectible firearms it's: condition, condition, and condition.

FWIW, "condition" doesn't mean "good" or "fair" or some other subjective.

"Condition" refers to the remaining percentage (%) of remaining original factory finish on all metal & wood parts, including the disclosure of any known defects like rust, scratches, gouges, cracks, dents, bulges, alterations (like bbl length), and the mechanical operating condition including the condition of the bore/rifling.

Sometimes additional value might be imputed if a firearm has any known factory Special Order special features (There's a bunch of them).

Why pics or a first-hand inspection are best - so knowledgeable folks can spot features and/or defects.

How a Cody Letter helps value is that it defines when & the way the rifle left the factory - which can be compared to it's present configuration.



.

[twobit]

Hello,

The Cody letter only shows that a rifle is or isn't in the original "as built" configuration. It still could be totally fake, of questionable condition or made up of parts of several guns that might not be quite correct in the details for the time period. For example, there are 3 different barrel addresses used prior to 1899 depending on round or octagon barrel. Front sight, rear sight, and hammer styles change also. You also have different calibers to deal with and the difference between round and octagon barrels in the sporting rifle category and the difference between sporting rifles and SRC's. Have we mentioned the possibility of optional barrel lengths, premium wood, checkering, nickel plating, special sights, half octagon barrels, set triggers, or variable magazine lengths?

If you have a specific rifle in mind and have photos of it please post it here or send them to me. I am a moderator on another website that deals with subject all the time and have helped over 10,000 people.

Thanks
Michael