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8 comments

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  • martinphoto1
    In the newest publication of "Winchester An Investment Option" a 80% rifle in this vintage it's valued @4k.

    IMO....I think this rifle has a collectible value of about $2500.00 to $3000.00. It's a very nice rifle but there are no special features and there is that blemish on the mag. tube. and bbl., also, several screws show signs of being turned. I'm sure others will have other opinions. But my reasons are based on what I mentioned above and generally 2 other major factors.

    1-It's a round barrel, and though the seller is correct in that 73's of this vintage were produced in less numbers as round bbl's., octagons remained more popular just as they are today and usually sell higher than the round bbl'd. ones of the same condition.

    2-Caliber! M73 .32WCF rifles are the least favored by the majority of collectors. I've seen and personally experienced several hundred dollar differences in value of similar rifles and the bigger calipered ones always go for bigger bucks. In the above mentioned Winchester publication the difference in the chart for this Winchester goes from $4k for the .32WCF to $6.6K for the 44/40.

    As to your last question...I believe that all Winchester's will gain in value, and the higher conditioned ones, as this is, will gain a higher percentage in the same time period than those of lesser condition.

    Regards,
    Marty
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  • Bert H.
    The condition is not quite as high (nice) as the seller tries to make it out to be, the rear sight is not original, and his pitch about the "rarity" of round barreled Model 1873 Sporting Rifles is wasted space in his ad. His value quote from the Blue Book is also bogus.

    The real truth, is that Model 1873s in the 32 WCF caliber are the toughest to sell unless there is something special about the individual piece (and that rifle is not special in any way). While the condition is much better than average, it is still not good enough to put it in the "special" category. The fact that it is a "plain jane" Sporting Rifle with no special order options also diminishes the collector interest (value), but it is still a highly collectable Winchester.

    My estimate of the current value is $2500 - $2800, possibly a few hundred more to a motivated collector. There are no guarantees what the future may hold for the value levels of collectable Winchesters, but that rifle should continue to appreciate in value with time.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by martinphoto1
    In the newest publication of "Winchester An Investment Option" a 80% rifle in this vintage it's valued @4k for a 80% rifle.

    IMO....I think this rifle has a collectible value of about $2500.00 to $3000.00. It's a very nice rifle but there are no special features and there is that blemish on the mag. tube. and bbl., also, several screws show signs of being turned. I'm sure others will have other opinions. But my reasons are based on what I mentioned above and generally 2 other major factors.

    1-It's a round barrel, and though the seller is correct in that 73's of this vintage were produced in less numbers as round bbl's., octagons remained more popular just as they are today and usually sell higher than the round bbl'd. ones of the same condition.

    2-Caliber! M73 .32WCF rifles are the least favored by the majority of collectors. I've seen and personally experienced several hundred dollar differences in value of similar rifles and the bigger calipered ones always go for bigger bucks. In the above mentioned Winchester publication the difference in the chart for this Winchester goes from $4k for the .32WCF to $6.6K for the 44/40.

    As to your last question...I believe that all Winchester's will gain in value, and the higher conditioned ones, as this is, will gain a higher percentage in the same time period than those of lesser condition.

    Regards,
    Marty


    Marty my friend, I am impressed[^]. All those mini-lessons are paying off. We were apparently writing our responses to this post at nearly the same time.
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  • GuvamintCheese
    Some very valuably information gentleman, THANK YOU!
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  • martinphoto1
    Hey Bert,

    I was just now gonna reply after reading your response to 'cartod' that finally after only 7-8 yrs. of following your commentary I'm finally starting to gain some knowledge. But I'm stumped on the rear sight issue...is it the serrated elevator that's incorrect?

    Best regards,
    Marty (hopefully graduating to Winchester 102)
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  • Bert H.
    Hello Marty,

    It is the entire sight. The original rear sight had serrations on the outside edges of the lobes, whereas the later version was made without the serrations (like that sight). Yes, the elevator is also not correct (way too new). The elevator in that sight has a February, 1901 patent date stamped on the left side of it.
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  • GuvamintCheese
    I like it when these guns extend beyond our percieved value. In my mind it says that the collector market for old winny's is strong and expanding....and that is a good thing.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by cartod
    I like it when these guns extend beyond our percieved value. In my mind it says that the collector market for old winny's is strong and expanding....and that is a good thing.


    I believe that both Marty and I put the high-end of the value estimate right at what that rifle sold for, and I agree that the market is still quite good for the quality guns.
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