Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors The Riflemans Rifle

I'm trying to help the widow of Yooper 35 (John Strahl) move a few things. There are two copies of this and I doubt they are first editions. Both are in excellent condition but I have no idea of the value. What is a fair price for these? She also has The Winchester Book by Madis and the soft cover reloading books by PO Ackley. I'm not familiar with the used book market so any help is appreciated.

It really depends on the edition, whether they are signed, and the condition. A signed 1st Ed. hardback will generally go for $350. If you look inside the book it should tell you what year it was printed.

Eric

I've seen unsigned first editions go for $400+. Keep in mind, if you list them on ebay or other such places you need to have a starting price high enough that you aren't going to get taken/reamed in the pooper. I've seen it many times, where an item is worth more than what it sells for. When I sell something, I always start with a starting price, never start at a penny contrary to what idiots/ebay tell you.

OP, we need more info on the books. There are first editions, limited editions, signed first editions, signed second editions (published in 1996), signed 1 of 500 limited editions, leather bound first editions (reelman has some of these). Etc. etc.... Each version is worth a different amount. Also keep in mind, there are soft cover books that are hardly worth $70.00 in used condition...

GSP, the first editions (The Rifleman's rifle) were published in 1982.

Both books are second edition unsigned excellent condition.

One of the members on here recently put a leather bound 1st edition on eBay, it only went for $511 if I remember correctly. IMHO that's a travisty that it went that low.

Pm sent

Not 100% sure but Gunbroker has one listed...asking around $800 fyi

I'm assuming the book was not advertised well and it didn't have a high enough starting price. I discussed this earlier.. . I've sold and seen unsigned first and second editions sell for upwards of $450.00. These were unsigned editions. If the OP does it right, he should get about $350.00-$400.00 (each) out of the books according to current market value..

Current market value is much less than you think, you won't get more than $250 for a pristine second edition. A signed first edition will go for $350.00-$400.00. As was already stated, a limited edition, signed, first edition for $511.00. The one for $800.00 has been there for a long time...

Bull schit. Plain and simple.. Why don't you go and do something simple like teach flave how to load the right ammo in his rifle..

The books are a good investment? Is that why many are now trying to recoup their money with no success?

You sniff around the Winchester forum enough to try and look like you know what you are talking about. Get yourself a Roger Rule book and see how fast it sells for what you think it is worth.

If you actually got out and shot something besides a target and quit brown nosing everyone you think helps your credibility here, you might really learn something. Flave has probably killed more with the wrong ammunition in his gun than you have packing your rifles around where there isn't any game or you just can't find any. You are out of your league here...

Looks like I will be keeping mine for awhile.

Sometimes there are deals that sneak by but a nice second edition should not be sold for less than $250, and that is too low. I bought a nice 1st edition for $235 or $285 last year but that was pure luck on ebay, a direct result of a poor ad. I also bought a beater, dog chewed first edition for $100.00 a couple of months ago. A dog had chewed one corner and damaged the cover but no pages were affected. The reference material is still there and my grandson loved it regardless.

I would ask $275-$285 each, minimum for those two.

The problem with all this pre 64 collection/investment stuff is that many (most) of the guys who GIS are aging or dying off.

Most young shooters are pissed they have to pay $500 for some mass-produced POS rifle, and are upset they don't get the scope for free with a lifetime warrant


Most don't know what a pre 64 is and could care less. These aren't the kind of people likely to buy Rules Book for $600-$700 bucks.

Bob you have a valid point and it's a shame really. I have often considered selling the M70 collection and the Parkers while there is still some semblance of a market. Keep the custom rifles, varmint rifles and a couple of small bore shotguns and call it good. Then I come to my senses and figure screw it I'll die with them

Yes, the market for old stuff isn't going to be what it is in the future. One example is prices asked for one of the most overpriced classic American shotgun out there which is Winchester Model 21. Like I told Winchester shotgun guys on another forums young buck like me looking for classic shotgun is going to pick something like: W.J. Jeffrey, Tolley, W&C Scott. One can get original 2&3/4" chambers, 1&1/4 oz heavy proof plus nice wood and some scroll for a lot less than butt ugly black actioned Winchester.
Personally I would not be left sitting on bunch of classic American stuff.

Bob, you are so right on this and selling fine stuff now in Canada, is difficult as our economy is tanking and younger "shooters" seem to think that cheap junk is the only way to go.

I honestly think that we are in the last stages of generalized public hunting here and also that Euro-style gun regs. as in how many one can own are coming soon.

Ironic, eh, as those who saved democracy in WWII die and we their children grow old, those coming up are so willing to just abandon the freedoms fought for with such huge sacrifice.......

Raining here, tends to get one down a mite.........

Came across one at the Allentown Show this weekend in original factory shrink wrap with an asking price of $300.00. Don't believe it was signed and not sure of the edition....

I thought you'd finally crawled off and died Mr EuroTrash...

why don't you just sit over on your side of the ocean and keep supporting radical Islam and Communism, and STFU on our side of the ocean? Butthead....