Friend is bringing over a Winchester model 65 25-20 tomorrow that he wants to sell. He gave me a verbal description but he knows little about guns. If it is original, I am confident on what a ball park figure is. If it has been refinished or drilled and tapped do you do the usual markdown or is the 65 a bit more desirable? He says it has a tang sight on it that says Marbles so I doubt that it has been drilled.
It’s the typical markdown in my opinion. 65s in that chambering bring a good bit of money these days.
I would say that if it is refinished (well), that rifle configuration will still be easy to offload - if you later decide to - because of its relative rarity. And buyers who may not normally have interest in refinished guns in general might make an exception on something like this if they needed it to fill out a collection.
I agree with JS, with so few made (5700-ish) even altered examples bring decent money. When I first started looking for a 65 I quickly found out a decent 100% original example was out of my price range and fully half the rifles I looked at were altered to some degree. I eventually "settled" for a .218 with alterations and a price I could live with.
Charter Member Ancient order of the 1895 Winchester
"It's an insecure and petite man who demands all others like what he likes and dislike what he dislikes." szihn
I hear the 25-20 is the rarest but the 218 bee is the most desired. He will have it out here in a couple hours. Hope it is all original. I don't have a 65............
Was lucky enough to buy it. All original with no modifications except for the Marbles flip up tang peep sight which I believe adds value. Wood has original finish with a couple minor gouges and some normal handling marks. I would say 80% on wood, 70% on receiver and then comes the barrel. Steel wool obviously used 😞. I would say 50% finish on the barrel but I grade pretty conservatively. Bore is great! Needless to say I am a happy camper!
