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Value on Proof version of Comemmorative Wichester

GunHawke
From the not so sunny south (we have flurries today!) [8D],

A friend of mine has a Winchester 94 Commemorative made in a run of 100, I believe, for Jo Daviess County, Illinois. I follow commemoratives to some degree but I have as yet to see where the proof version is being sold. Any help on where to look into this? All the details of the gun (octagon barrel, laser etching, 45LC caliber etc.) matter, but the proof question has me stopped in my tracks. I assume he'll put the gun up for auction here on GB in the future.

Thanks as always and hopefully a better new year for all!!

Jim
GunHawk on GunBroker
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Comments

5 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    No such thing. There are "proof" coins, but not guns.

    What your friend has is a "special edition". A "special edition" is a run of guns bought by a single person, distributor, or organization in it's entirety. That is different from a "commemorative", which is cataloged by the manufacturer & available to all distributors. (But, you can certainly order a "special edition" to commemorate a person or event.)

    The important difference is that "special editions" are not collectible & rarely bring any premium above the "plain" version of the same gun in similar condition.

    Neal

    EDIT: Jim, the word "proof" has a special meaning in the coin & printing areas, probably others, but not in the firearms field. When you pay cash for a special run of guns, the manufacturer will stamp or engrave any words you want on them. You could have had the word "COW" engraved on your special edition USRA rifles, but that doesn't mean you can milk them. They are what they are: pimped-out guns that most folks don't want.
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  • GunHawke
    Thanks for your input! So as not to argue the point, but to provide my reason for using the term "proof", The top of the bolt is BOLDLY engraved with the word PROOF, encircled with gold, etching etc.

    Never seen one like it....

    BTW, it's the modern cross bolt push button safety model.

    Jim
    GunHawk
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  • duckhunter
    The work was not done by Winchester. Several companies will make "commemoraties" if you will pay the price. One in Colo and one in Wy are still in business. Value is what do you want to pay. Very little resale demand. Many, many counties have had this work done.
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  • tsr1965
    They sell for the issue price for big "dressed up" money, and loose value faster than a used car with 50,000 miles on. That applies to most all commemoratives that do not come from the factory. The value is about the same as a factory gun of the same model that has not been imbellished.

    Best
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  • givette
    Need to track down who put the word 'Proof' on the gun, and why. I can only imagine 'Proof' means it's a genuine frog issued by calabassas county![:D]

    As Neal said, proof coinage uses special die-stamps to make the currency. Not so with this firearm.

    The highest possible quality 'normal' coin would be brilliant uncirculated whereby excellent quality routine equipment was used to manufacture the coin. This is your rifle. The word proof is ambiguous.

    I digress..Can you (or more appropriately, your friend) get any info on just as to where USRA SerNo XYXYXYX was shipped to? I don't know if USRA offers that type of service. Sorry. Joe
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