Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Okay, It's a PRE-64, So What ??

doug675
Winchester Pre-64...Add $1000 ? $2000 ?

I'm, starting to see pre 64 everything. Somehow PRE-64 means add some ridiculous amount to the auction. So it's got a claw extractor etc and if it's a nice rifle (super grade) maybe a grand or $1500. but $2000 or $3000 for a field grade PRE-64 ?? I don't get it.

Pre 64's are fine rifles but I think a bit Overrated !
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • duckhunter
    what is your question???

    I WOULD RATHER BE DUCK HUNTING.
    0
  • doug675
    My question would be, Am I missing something on a Winchester 70 Pre-64 and why would a person deem such a gun (non super grade) to be worth thousands of dollars AND what's a Win 94 30-30 PRE-64 have to do with anything ??? Some of these auctions...

    I'd rather be Pheasant Hunting
    0
  • Hangfire
    I agree there Doug!!!Get yourself something that serves your purpose and let us poor misguided souls fight it out among ourselves [8D][8D]

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
    0
  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by doug675
    My question would be, Am I missing something on a Winchester 70 Pre-64 and why would a person deem such a gun (non super grade) to be worth thousands of dollars AND what's a Win 94 30-30 PRE-64 have to do with anything ??? Some of these auctions...

    I'd rather be Pheasant Hunting


    Doug... You are not missing anything, it simply is just that there are a fair number of ignorant people "trying" to sell a few guns and get rich, and not knowing squat about what they are peddling[V]. While it is a fact that the pre-64 made Winchester Model 70s and Model 94s are better made guns, they are not worth "thousands" more $$$ (except for a few of the rare caliber Super grades).

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
    0
  • wm69
    You will see a lot of people "asking" some pretty high prices for guns, but whether or not they are getting that is something entirely different. What if you were a collector who had ammassed every caliber of standard production model 70's but one or two. You would be willing to pay a premium to get those remaining guns. You pass one up, even if it is marked up several hundred dollars more than you have seen then for, chances are you will buy it to "get it out of the way". It is funny to see people list a gun for 8 months and not lower the price, but I guess they are holding out for that one guy looking for their gun and willing to pay a premium for it. The difference to most people in a pre 64 and post 64 is quality plain and simple. Winchester's quality control went to pot when they restructured and the later guns just weren't as well made. Take a magnifying glass and look at a pre 64 and a post 64. The craftsmanship just isn't comparable. The avg post 64 will have a poorer general fit and finish & tons of tooling marks that weren't polished out. Colt and Smith and Wesson had similiar downward spirals in quality control in the mid 70's. Would you rather pay $500 for a shoddily made rifle, or $1000 for a rifle that was inspected before it left the factory? Granted there are exceptions and you will find great post 64 examples and poor pre64 examples, but for someone who really appreciates fine craftsmanship, the pre 64 is where you have to look to get it, thus the higher price.
    0
  • icdux1
    sirs, any time there is a limited number of desireable items{i.e. no longer produced} and the number of people wanting them increases, well the price is going to increase in relation. that is of course why a 1955 chevy now costs 30,000 or say a mint pr. of s&w n frame diamond target grips cost more that the whole gun originally cost. there is an old saying "you cant pay too much, just too soon" i am not trying to defend scalpers, but if you are waiting for pre 64`s to come down, well could be a long wait. dux

    icdux1 and kathy
    0
  • 22WRF
    I had 2 Win 94's 30/30 one a 1957 the other a 1978.

    Having no need for 2 of the same model and cal and needing some cash for some more S&W's I sold the 1957 here on GB and got a premium price for it.

    Yes the 57 was smoother & finished better but did not shoot any better the the 78.




    There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.
    [Teddy Roosevelt]
    0
  • bobski
    let me see if i can help just a little...pre 64's were handmade guns by old craftsmen, taught by old world masters. after 64, winchester thru out all the hand tools, fired them all, and traded them in for production line machines that made guns with pot metal parts instead of machined parts. they decided it was more profitable to cut corners on quality and quanity became more important. people ordering guns today from winchesters custom shop are actually paying for guns that use to be commonplace prior to 64. follow me? so, you buy a m70 in your local store for 600.00. if you had ordered it thru the custom shop...2000.00. with me? the old guns out in the public are commanding custom shop prices because they all are equal to current custom shop guns in quality. some of the old shop foggies are still working in the custom shop with ball and chains on them and the evil foreman still whips them like they did before unions. the result? perfect guns the way our dads use to have.

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    0
  • taperloc
    Hello doug675,
    I agree with bobski! I shoot skeet and trap at the Winchester Factory Range and there are two retired Winchester gunsmiths that work there part time. They don't like to talk about the new production stuff. I will sometimes take one of my "project" (pre-1920) Winchesters to the range to get expert advice on what to do next. The old smithies eyes light up, they get very interested, and are more than helpful.

    I think it's like buying a new car. You can get a $10,000 car that will get you there, but it's not the same as the feel, ride, and comfort of a $40,000 auto. "You get what you pay for"
    I wouldn't trade one of my old Winchester for ten of the new ones.
    Taperloc
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity