1963 model Winchesters
I have read somewhere and was told at a gun show that some of the late 1963 built winchesters were not nearly as well built as the earlier ones because they were not matching up all the parts with as tight tolerances as the earlier models. Is there any truth to this? Does it lower the value if you own a gun manufactured in late 1963?
Thanks
Thanks
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Gene,
Pre 64 is pre 64, I've not heard anything about late 63 being worth less. One of the most valuable and hard to find pre 64 Winchesters is a pre 64 model 70 300 Win Mag. There was only 4,916 of them built, and they where all built in 1963.
One doesn't want to beleave every thing you hear at a gun show, especialy about Winchesters.
Go to the auction side here on GB and buy your self a copy of The Red Book of Winchester Values, by Larry Shennum & Bert Hartman.
This is a very good book about Winchester values.
W.D.0 -
Gene,
For the Model 94s manufactured after WW II through early 1963, there is a noticeable decline in overall quality of the workmanship and final product. Production of the "pre-1964" Model 94 ended before mid-year 1963, as Winchester began the process of removing the older machinery and installing the new equipment that was to be used of the Post-1963 production guns. I very much suspect that in the last 6-months or so of the pre-64 production, that Winchester was trying to use up as much of the remaining parts on hand as possible, including some parts that may have been previously set aside as questionable for use. In my opinion (though it was not discussed in my book), the quality and value of the very late pre-64 Model 94s is generally speaking a bit less than those that were made in earlier years. As for myself, I do not collect the post WW II guns, and seek out those that are pre-war.0 -
Thanks for the info. I have a pre 64 Mod. 70 in 270 that I was told is late 63 production serial # 578181 and a Mod 94 pre 64 in 32 Winspl # 2533165 ( not sure when it was made ). 0 -
Gene,
Your Model 94 is a 1962 vintage gun. Your Model 70 was manufactured in August of 1963.0 -
Thank you very much Bert for the dates.
Gene0 -
There can be a difference between quality and value and you reference both in your question. In the case of the model 70, there was a transition out of manufacturing costs over many years that made 1963 rifles quite different than those of earlier years. In about 1952 the forged front sight ramp (part of the barrel) was dropped and ramps were soldered on. In 1959 the steel (aluminum on the Featherweights)butt plates were replaced with composite plastic. In 1960, hand checkering was replaced with machined checkering over a pattern area that was visibly smaller. By then, Winchester was rapidly getting the cost out of manufacturing. Rarity and quality created some value confusion in those later years, but the 1963 rifles were definitely not handcrafted like the ones many years earlier in many opinions. 0 -
This is why I joined this forum. So much good info. Although I am 65 and been around guns all my life I always just bought what I liked and never bought anything I did not use.I never considered that they may one day go up in price or even turn into collectors. I learn something new every day. I do clean them throughly after using and at least oil them down every couple of months. Most of the guns I have had over the years were almost spotless and in excellent condition even years later. I never considered that they may one day go up in price or even turn into collectors. I have only recently thought about collectors at all and know that I can not afford any of the really nice guns, but I like to pick up a good clean older gun when I can.
Again Thank you all for the great info,
Gene0
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