I have been offered a Model 71 Winchester, a Deluxe with low serial number that still looks extremely good (95 to 98%).
The gun had an inch cut off the butt stock and a red rubber pad installed. (Butt plate now missing). It also had the receiver drilled and a scope mount and scope added. (Lyman peep sight now missing).
From looking at some of the 71s that have recently been sold and are available right now, realistic values for one that's still original is between $1600 and $2200. (There are some with prices that are way over those. I think those prices may be more a wish than real.)
Can someone offer an estimate of how much the modifications reduced the value of the rifle.Can someone offer an estimate of how much the modifications reduced the value of the rifle.Thanks,
Bob

Sorry I can't help with the pricing, but is it a period scope mount and scope, or something newer and cheaper?

I was told that the rifle has not been out of its case in 25 years, other than to show to me, so I would suspect that the scope is an older unit. A picture I saw shows it to be made by HAWK. The rings look like they were pressed steel and not machined. The scope mount uses large head screws, the kind you might use a coin to tighten. It also appereared to have s shim under the scope mount.

I just got a message from a collector who said that each unorthodox modification will detract from the rifle's value, up to the point that it reaches a value equal to what one would pay for a non-collector one. At that point, it's purely a matter of condition with no collector influence. A rule of thumb given was that drilling the receiver was a big deduction and that cutting the stock was also a big deduction (both having a similar deduction value) and they add together for a doubling of the mark down in value. The fact that the butt plate and peep sight are not there, offsets only by what it would cost to buy a proper replacement if one were to try and return the rifle closer to original. With the items that the rifle had done, it was mentioned that it would be at the low to mid range of "shooter" value.

yep, good analysis. its a shooter now. Probably a nice looking shooter if you can live thith the mods.

It's pretty much worthless. So I'll give you a $100. to take it off your hands.

Leave the cash on top of your mail box this week-end. I'll come by and get the cash and leave the rifle leaning there against the box.

Left cash whar's me shooter ?

Hawk was a model of Unertl hunting scope. Very good for the time.

Here's one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Unertl-Haw...0QQitemZ130289624722

Bruce

quote:

Originally posted by shorthair:
Left cash whar's me shooter ?

That was YOUR dough? I dunno'. Next you're going to tell me that the rifle lying there was yours too...

I purchased a 71 last year in similar to your description less the drilling and tapping.
I paid $800 probably too much as the bore was also a little buggered.
Frank

I doubt that you will get hurt too bad. Just about any original (not replica) M-71 is worth $800.

I usually figure extra holes cost about $100 ea., then the stock chopped and recoil pad is another $250-$300, so deduct that from the going price, and you've got a value.

After buying this model 71 Winchester, I removed the Hawk-Unertle scope and installed it on my lever action rimfire.
Then I found a nice original Winchester butt plate. Packaged the rifle and butt plate and sent to have a new stock made, fitted, and finished and checkered as an original would be.
The streight grain replacement stock with butt plate cost me almost $500.
I am fabricating a custom scope mount that will use the drilled holes, but will position the EER scope directly above the barrel and just forward of the receiver. The mount will also have a dovetail that will engage the cut in the barrel, providing additional rigidity. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find anyone in this area that can blue the base for me.
By the way, I will provide the scope base design (for free) to anyone interested.
Thanks,
Bob Nisbet
Sr. Technology Protection Specialist
Army Research & Technology Protection Center
Supporting Army Aviation
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
Robert.Nisbet1@US.Army.MiL

Thats sounds nice. How about some pictures.

quote:

Originally posted
[b]Can someone offer an estimate of how much the modifications reduced the value of the rifle

How about "none at all"?

The way prices of M 71s are going up, if you bought it last week, I am sure you could still sell it for more than you paid.

Compared to its cash value when the modifications were originally made, I am sure it worth at least double right now over what it was then.

As a "dense woods elk rifle", it is absolutely a precious gun for elk in places like the Olympic Forest of Washington State, the Oregon Coast Range, etc.

In Maine, Ontario, even northern Alberta, it is just as valuable as a "moose switch".

I suppose if you are asking "what is the rifle worth now compared to what it would have been IF it was still completely original, in 100% condition, and never fired", a guy could guesstimate some degree of unrealized cash gain supposedly "lost" by doing the modificiations. I mean, heck, someone could say, "Well, it might have been worth $3,500 today, or even more."

But "if" and "might" games can drive a fella nuts if he lets them, and usually turn out to be poor indicators of true value.

Heck, IF I had finished both law and medical school, If I had then set up my own LLC, and IF I'd performed both the first successful heart transplant AND implanted the first successful artificial heart, I MIGHT be worth a zillion bucks in cash, at least for a little while.

But I didn't.

Even if I had, when I die I would still only be worth less than $1 worth of stinky chemicals.

My suggestion is, enjoy your rifles for what they are to YOU. Your enjoyment is your profit, not the cash you might gain or lose.

And that way, there is NO loss regardless what. There's only the profit of what you did and where you went with that good buddy, YOUR rifle.

Thanks All,
My question was presented before I purchased the rifle, in an attempt to make sure I was going to pay fair value.
When I get the scope mounted, I will post some pictures.
By the way, the rifle is a long tang, 4 digit serial number from the 2nd or 3rd month of production in 1936. The metal is like ivory soap, 99 and 44 hundreths and the only remaining degredation are the drilled holes for a scope.
Bob Nisbet

Mod 1896 Winchester, octagonal barrel in the shop. Refinished. Refinish in this gun dropped the value from about $1500 down to about $800.

And it's no longer considered "collectible."

In another shop there was a Rem. Rolling block. Decent shape except about 2" cut off the end of the barrel. Dropped the value about 80%.

quote:

Refinished. Refinish in this gun dropped the value from about $1500 down to about $800.

As a "Brit" I struggle with this concept on a working rifle or shot gun. I really do.

Here in UK it is really no big deal to refinish the barrels on a shot gun. Been done TWICE to my late father's gun that he got as a twelvth birthday present in 1919. Once when he had it and and once last year by me.

Blue wears off with use. If a gun needs it such that the barrel is down to bare metal in places I see no harm in it at all. Or are we talking what I hear are called "safe queens"?

I can understand a drop in value on a pistol - say a 1911 or an original S & W 357 Magnum but on a working rifle or shot gun? If it needs it...do it.