I saw Mod 70 Safari International Anniversary edition number 1 of 200 at a show today for $1250. 200 were built in 1997. I am not familiar with the big bores so what do you guys think?

Nobody else seems to helping so I will stumble into this one I guess.

First its not not listed in my blue book, so I am winging this.

Describe the rifle a little, is the stock as good as a supergrade? Anything unusual about the rifle like upgrades, I would think if is a numbered rifle Winchester did something special to it.

A brand new WInchester 375 H&H on the lowest grade cusrrently lists for around $1150, on the street maybe a tad cheaper. CDNN was blowing some out around $900 a while back not sure if they still are. These are plain rifles nothing really special, nothing really bad either expect the MIM extractor.

Up the Winchester scale of current rifles the numbers jump right to about $2500, then $3000, and $4500 is their top african style rifle.

Ok the top two grades nobody ever sees, Winchester doesn't really make them unless you special order them. They might dance one around their shot show booth so everyboby still thinks their in the game, unless you order one or talk them into sellin gyou that one good luck.

Used the prices come down on new USRAC rifles, they don't hold the resell value like the old Winchesters did, as a rule but there are exceptions. Grade rifles, rare, and special edition improve that somewhat, but they certainly aren't upside down like the pre 64's are.

So $1250 could be a fair price, 375 H&H's as a rule hold value. The cheapest deal 375 H&H I can think of is a Whitworth and they are getting up to $750-800 bucks nowdays used. The days of these going for $500 are pretty much gone.

That price in mind were there $400 worth of upgrades on the one you saw? Better wood? Barrel bands, any little goodies? If those are present in a factory rifle I would saw yes its worth it, with one caveat....CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION, raggetty doesn't cut it, it should be around 99-97% at least. I would need to see it to determine that, but due to its new manufacture that means no blueing wear, very minor stock nicks at most, very close to pristine.

Not a quote from the blue book but I hope that helps. One note to remember about blue book prices its a guide, very rare guns are not represented well. I would take a 2nd mortgage on my house to buy 416 Rigby rifles at the blue book prices, simply they are not even close to real. The value in a rifle ( or handgun ) many times is about does it make you happy and do you like it, if its a rare piece that you having been looking for over a year or so, a extra $100-200 is not relevant. Put a value on your time, I have a 1914 commercial 1911 Colt that if I was paid $.50 an hour over the period of finding it, and restoring it, parts hunts etc. I bet I still would have $1000 of my time in it.

If it has some upgrades over the normal Model 70 Safari Express then I think it is worth 1250...depending on the upgrades of course.

It is perfect like out of the box. It has scope rings and a hooded front sight. The floor plate is gold ingraved Safari Club International 25th Anniversay 1 of 200 in gold.
The wood was very pretty is all that I can tell you as far as grade. I wanted to take it home but did not want to be taken just because of the engraving on the floor plate and decided to get some input from the forum.
The guy told me that 200 were made in 1997.

If you like it then get it. Even if it is overpriced, it's only by 200 bucks or so.

Have fun!

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
If you like it then get it. Even if it is overpriced, it's only by 200 bucks or so.

My thoughts exactly I have two friend gunsmiths always talking me out of rifles. Price and resell means a lot to them, yeah its important, but so is actually owning certain guns, which I never see in their collections. One has been hankering for a 418 Rigby for years, and could actually build it if he would spring for the action, or just sell off a few of his really non essential stuff and fund it.

Both of these guys are friends and good guys but I hate it when my gun dealers are talking me out of buying stuff cause they think the price is a hundred or two to much, both think I am nuts for funding old Mauser and Winchesters like I do. I think is silly when you hunt down something really nice like a Westly Richards or a commercial Muaser Werrke and then let a hundred or so dollars hang you up, its costs 1/2 of that to hunt down another one.

EDIT: I am not so silly as to buy that Whitworth 375H&H being talked about in the other thread, my premium is a couple hundred or so which means for that exact Whitworth I would go up to $800-$900 tops ( and I am not so sure I would even give him $650, I am not impressed).