BRoth82
Well-known member
I'm wondering what a pre '64 winchester 32 special is worth? It's my dad's gun, he said it's in close to mint condition, he also has a matching. 30-30 but it shows some wear.
Pre 64 winchester
- Thread starter BRoth82
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BackofBeyond
Well-known member
What model are they?
BRoth82
Well-known member
Not sure they are both lever guns, if that helps
Making huge assumptions
Winchester has pretty good records about mfg date from the serial number. “Pre 64” and “lever actions” makes me guess model 94.
Use your google-fu and get a date range., then look at auction sites and get a very approximate valuation. Look at what they sold for, not what people are asking.
Failing that, pay someone to appraise them. That may be a good choice anyway, for insurance purposes.
Having familial firearms around makes me smile. Remembering time in the field with the people who came before me, or taking the next generation that gets to use them along is high on the list.
Winchester has pretty good records about mfg date from the serial number. “Pre 64” and “lever actions” makes me guess model 94.
Use your google-fu and get a date range., then look at auction sites and get a very approximate valuation. Look at what they sold for, not what people are asking.
Failing that, pay someone to appraise them. That may be a good choice anyway, for insurance purposes.
Having familial firearms around makes me smile. Remembering time in the field with the people who came before me, or taking the next generation that gets to use them along is high on the list.
Last edited:
Salmonchaser
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- Nov 12, 2019
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If dad wants to give them to you put them in the safe even if you have little interest in them now. You’ll thank me later. Otherwise they are worth only what some one will pay for them. Research the date of manufacture check gunbroker etc and see what they are selling for. Original condition and age are the factors.
BackofBeyond
Well-known member
Same. If it's a family gun, doesn't matter what it's "worth." Stick it in the safe and hold on to it.
OntarioHunter
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32 Special is useful for shooting a sick heifer in the head at close range and that's about it. This gun may have some value as a collectible but if you're thinking of hunting, talk him out of the 30-30.
p_ham
Well-known member
32Spl will shoot the same weight bullet faster than a 30-30 even with a shorter barrel. 50-150fps faster.
It also has a better twist rate than 30-30 for handling cast bullets more accurately.
Availability is where it loses out.
People didn't like it because it "kicks more" which should be obvious since it's pushing the same weight bullet faster.
L
longbow51
Guest
I'm in the giving stuff away stage, not the buying stage, but a 32 Special would be too cool if you could find brass.
BRoth82
Well-known member
I would like to keep the 32 special, ir both since I don't have any of his guns. He also has an old ruger .22 pistol that I'd like to have. His deer rifle is a old winchester model 70 30-06, love that gun as well
tzone
Well-known member
I'm not into drugs.....But I'll have some of what you're having.
BRoth82
Well-known member
I did talk to my Dad and both are Winchester model 94's, the 30-30 has been tapped for a scope and has an old scope on it. I may just end up taking both of them since they are the same model and gun just different calibers.
grizzly63
Well-known member
I like to proofread what I print before I post it just in case it doesn't come across right and you can learn a lot from a dummy like me. I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
grizzly63
Well-known member
In my opinion, the pre 64 winchester thing has more to do with the controlled round feed of the bolt action than any of there other guns but someone can teach me if I'm off base.
brownbear932008
Well-known member
My uncle shot many treed bear with a .32 Winchester 94. Last I asked him it was over 80 bears during his lifetime that had been killed with that gun. Only thing he ever packed as far as I know.
I kinda think you’re thinking of the wrong .32…. I guess I had always heard the .32 Special as being better than a .30/30 and we all know that cartridge doesn’r exactly suck. Same case, wider bullet.
shrapnel
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No, it matters with the model 94 as well. In 1964 Winchester officially started to cheapen their guns in production costs to stay competitive. There was a lot of machining in the pre-64 guns that was discontinued and they replaced some internal parts with cheaper cast parts. The post 1964 guns do show the difference, which in many cases is significant.
It started before 1964, but that was the year that the most radical changes were made in the production of those guns…
