Winchester 1866-1966 Centennial

[Guest TankerHC]

This of course would not be to everyone's taste for the reason it is unfired and send one round down the barrel and 25% of its collector value is gone. Anyway, came across this in a Pawn Shop in Chattanooga. It is an unfired 1866 -1966 Winchester Centennial manufactured March 1966. I know these arent exactly John Browning one off's, but here's the thing. I did my research and a couple of things I notice.

 

First, all of them I have seen so far either 1. Have the box but have been shot. 2. Dont have the box but havent been shot. 3. Have the box, havent been shot but the receiver looks like they polished it with 00 grit sandpaper. 

 

102,000 of these were manufactured in Carbine and Rifle length. So they arent rare, but every time I see that someone has bought an unfired one, they ask and the suggestion is always the same "shoot it,". I agree, shoot it, shoot all of them until the barrels melt, take them to the woods, bang em up, bang the heck out of them. In fact, throw the box and papers away, take them to the woods, shoot them and feel free to drop, bang, scratch and whatever else needs to be done to remove one more from the unfired poole. I agree wholeheartedly. 

 

I figure paying 2/3rds of what GVB and Blue Book says the value is, is a pretty good deal. Looked in the completed auctions on what they went for, payed less than a fired one without the box. Also notice that the "experts" have the numbers all over the place. As far as pre-post 64, in 20 years it wont even matter. 

 

New, unfired condition in Box (Unless you consider dust a problem), tag still on the lever. Whoever had this never even bothered polishing it, probably because you weren't supposed to. Box is frayed on the ends, no biggie. 

 

 

There is nothing wrong with the reciever, other than fingerprints, just appears that way in the photo. No swirls. 

 

 

 

[Sidinman]

Did you buy it? If so are you going to fire it?

[R_Bert]

Jeff, you are having way too much fun.

[Guest TankerHC]

Did you buy it? If so are you going to fire it?

 

Own it, not going to fire it. At least not for the time being, have several other lever actions to shoot, this will probably go somewhere and be forgotten about. 

[Sidinman]

Just wondering. I've got a 1966 94 Classic with the octagon barrel that was suppose to be unfired when I bought it a year or so ago. I still haven't shot it either, as I also have a couple of other 30-30's and other lever actions that I shoot.