questions about Model 42 Winchester
How rare is the 26" modified barrel in the field configuration, is there any premium? What is the forumns opinion of "retail" value of a 42 made in 1959 whose barrel assembly rates 98%, but receiver is off color. By off-color I mean it has a purplish tinge to it. The numbers match and the gun has obviously been shot very little. As I said the barrel is perfect in blue color and the receiver doesn't looked buffed but it definetely has had something slightly off in it's past. Sorry, I can't post a picture. Thanks for any opinions on this.
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THAT PURPLE TINGE MIGHT BE NORMAL, HI NICKLE ALLOYS TEND TO DO THIS. I'VE SEEN M-12 RECEIVERS LIKE THIS AND RUGER M-77'S TOO. 0 -
Good morning "Old hickory". Well you just asked the $64,000 question. First I would have to ask you to look at your gun closely because it sounds like it may not be original. first look at the safety, is it still "in the white" meaning not blued? For some unknown reason, Winchester didn't blue the safety on the Md 42 and that is a dead give away that at least the receiver may have been reblued. The purplish hue that it has is the second. Winchester "hot blued" the 42 and Md 12 receivers, the trick is they got it as hot as possible to prevent the blueing from turning purplish. I've seen quite a few Md 42s and 12s that have this problem and they all have been reblued, although some were wuite nice, they had that hue to them. Typically they turn a brown patina. Since your gun is only 44 years old, it shouldn't be there quite yet.
Now the 26 in barrel with the modified choke, your gun is in the last configureation, meaning out of the last 50,000 Md 42s produced aprox. 31000 were full choke, 13000 were modified choke and the rest were either, IC, skeet, or had a cutts on them,, about 2100. (Figures taken from Schwing's book and rounded off). Look closely at the receiver extention where the serial number is stamped. They matche the barrel assy to the receiver at final assembly. Then stamped the serial number and you should see where the stamped number broke through the blueing, and it should have some bare metal and possibly a ridge around the number. Another way to tell if it's been reblued.
So with all that being said, if your gun is truely original, the value is driven by a couple of things. First how bad does a buyer want that configuration, second, the overall condition of the gun, I've seen some standard field grade guns with quite a bit of figure in the butt stock as an example. I follow the auction sites and dealers aways looking for good Md 12s and 42s. Based on what you have said, without seeing it, I'd say a low of $750, to a high of $1250. I just saw a prewar 42 go for almost $1400 this weekend at auction. It, really did look like it just came out of the box. It was a 28 in full choke. Prewar guns command a higher premium than post war. Feil free to email me and if you can send me a picture I can narrow a price down better for you. Regards Dave0 -
thanks to both of you for the info. Now to "only Winchesters" I appreciate the breakdown on the choke. the reason I'm inquiring is that a small gunshop I deal with has the gun. He's asking $950 and from frequent dealings that means he'd take in the $850 - 875 area.
I've had a couple new in the box model 12s so I know what a mint winchester looks like and like I say, the barrel assembly is really great. I'd never heard of the safety being left in the white so I'll have to go back and see it again armed with the nes info. This same dealer had a first year production 42 that had only 30% finish but hadn't been altered and he got $550 last year for it. I was tempted but it was really a little rough for my liking. Well, thanks alot for the enlightening.0 -
O H, since it's a local gunshop, and knowing that the holidays are coming, and business in general is a little slow in this kind of market. I would go in with cash, and start at $750. just lay it on the counter. You might be surprised. keep to $50s in your pocke for additional bartering. regards Dave 0
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