I bought a new Custom shop model 70 years ago and I do not remember what I paid and I want to sell it. The custom shop letter state the following: November 15, 2002
GRADE CUSTOM SHORT ACTION
SERIAL NO. GWST00X
METAL FINISH SATIN MATTE BLUE
CALIBER: 300WSM
BARREL 24" CHROME-MOLY MATCH GRADE, CUT RIFLED TAPERED ROUND BARREL
STOCK: FANCY AMERICAN WALNUT-SATIN POLYURETHANE FINISH-"CLASSIC" CONFIGURATION WITH CHEEKPIECE-
1" BLACK RECOIL PAD-13 3/4 LOP.
CHECKERING: STANDARD MODEL 70, POINT PATTERN-18 L.P.I.
ENGRAVING: SELECTIVELY GOLD PLATED "WINCHESTER HORSE AND RIDER" ON FLOORPLATE. SURROUNDED BY A FINE GOLD LINE BORDER WITH COMPLIMENTARY SCROLL ENGRAVING.
OTHER FEATURES: LEFT HAND ACTION- (CLAW) CONTROLLED ROUND FEED EXTRACTION WITH ACTION HAND HONED AND WORK PERFORMED IN KEY AREAS OF THE RECEIVER- SQUARED LUGS AND POLISHED BOLT FACE- MODEL 70 UNKNURLED BOLT HANDLE- ENGINE TURNED BOLT BODY- ONE PIECE STEEL TRIGGER GUARD AND MAGAZINE COVER- STEEL PISTOL GRIP CAP- SPECIAL CUSTOM SHOP PROOF STAMP ALONG WITH WINCHESTER PROOF STAMP- FRONT AND REAR INLETTED SLING SWIVELS- ONE CROSS BOLT- DETACHABLE SLING SWIVELS.

SIGNED BY
LESLEE DENGLER- MANAGER
CUSTOM SHOP

IT IS STILL NEW IN THE BOX WITH ALL PAPERS. ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA ON A FARE PRICE?

SORRY ABOUT ALL THE CAPITALS

If you can post some pictures it would help quite a bit. Particularly the engraving and gold inlays. Left hand C.S.G.'s are rare but they are out there. Lefties are holding on to them due to no planned future production. Any hope is a pipe dream. The only thing that is not as desirable is the caliber which was all the rage when it was produced. In the condition you describe it should run between $3100-3600 a move it price. It could go as high as $4500 if you can hold out for the right buyer. You are definitely on the right site for advice. There are a lot of knowledegable people that frequent this forum and can give you a better insight than I. Due to the economy this is not the best time to sell higher end guns. You might have to do partial trade to make it happen quicker. You never know. I have three of them in the ss/mcmillan variety. Best of luck to you.
Charles

quote:

Originally posted by army aviator:
I bought a new Custom shop model 70 years ago

CALIBER: 300WSM
OTHER FEATURES: LEFT HAND ACTION- (CLAW)

That was not possible. Do you mean 7 years ago?

I won't tell your wife, but you paid $2600 for it: from 2005



George

It was easy using the advanced search; author+army aviator, search for 'wsm'.



George

Model 70 "Custom Ultimates," offered through 2006 or so, had a MSRP of $3000. I believe these slightly preceded the WSM versions.

They are extremely nice rifles, not only because the stocks and Krieger barrels are so handsome, but because of the custom action and feeding work, so they should be extra slick and accurate. I love them and want one.

That said, in the past 2-3 years, the prices have varied considerably for the LH ones. A couple of East Coast high end sellers have offered them at $5000 and eventually sold ones in big bore calibers at around that level after the better part of a year on sale. They finally found someone with a "need," such as one planning an African hunt. Others have sat unsold on GunBroker at no more than $2500, and as best I could see never did sell. There just are not that many buyers, from what I can see of following the online sites.

As Charles says, I too am guessing that cartridge has something to do with it. The market for these seems to have declined. I would like to have a LH one, but WSMs do not interest me.

Another problem is that when one gets into this price range, there become many other attractive choices besides an older model, dressed up Winchester. The demand is low, especially when if you have that much cash, one can pick up a Frank Wells, Echols, Dakota, et al. from time to time. That means that if you want to sell one in a reasonable time period (like within a month or two), the price has to be attractive -- like around what you paid.