Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors How many Winchesters makes a core collection?

I once had a Model 12 and a Model 94. But now down to The Three Amigos

Although I do have one more Model 70, it seems that with these three my inner Winchester is found.
Anyone else have a similar evolution?

I have 2 of those 3. would love to have that 21 !! I have thinned my herd to family and favorite shooter Winchesters, if you added a 52C Sporter you would be set for life for any thing that walks, crawls, climbs, flys or may try and do harm... top of food chain, the very best winpoor

Awesome fwt, wish I could find one as nice! Included on my "list" to find as funds permit is a couple nice model 12s (possibly a heavy duck and a 16 gauge).

Not exactly sure what a "core collection" is, but I think you're short a lever gun. Or two.

I think you're short a lever gun and a 22 myself. But damn few of us have a side by side in the mix. I'm impressed. Damn that is a sweet FW also. Reminds me of my .243 Std.

I think a core collection should include

a centerfire lever
a .22 of some kind
a shotgun
a centerfire bolt

I think a "core" collection is a personal thing, but you've got a dam nice one there. But it's too small, go buy more! A 94 is a must.

Yeah, those are nice guns but a cherry little 69A and a pre 64 m94 carbine would be two great ways to keep them company and round out the "Winchester experience" without costing you a lot of $$.

I understand the sentiment for the pre-64 94. I have owned two, one from the 1927 and one from 1957. Very nice guns, and each cost less than $700. But I was not able to see the rear sight well enough to make it fun to shoot. Not interested in a 22. Thought about getting a71 till I thought about it some more.

I have a 12, 42, and 70. I don't consider mine to be a collection, just three guns that I like.

Jack

Seven lever guns, two shotguns, two bolt guns that are all Winchesters.

Sort of like my pistols - mostly S&W

Most definitely needs a Model 12. The fact you can’t see the sights on a lever has nothing to do with one being required to make a representative collection.

I have a dozen "Winchesters" in the safe, but some just don't seem to be a part of any kind of collection on account of not having been made by the original Winchester organization. There's something about the older guns that seems a bit more "genuine" somehow. I really like my 70 Classics, my 101, and my repro-52, but. Kinda hard to put into words but I'm sure most understand.

I say, if it was made in New Haven CT USA, it counts.

Two!

Currently I have three pre'64 M/70's, a Featherweight .257 Roberts (rebarreled), a Featherweight .30-06 and a Super Grade .35 Whelen (rebore). I also have a M/25 with a rifled barrel that is my slug gun and a custom M/52 Sporter. If I were to add another it would be a M/88 .308 lever action.

Forgot to mention I also had a four digit 88 in .308. Beat me up so bad that after shooting 3 rounds I traded it for the Model 97.

42.

If your first Model 70 was a .458WM would that be reason to not have a Model 70 because of the recoil?

For those who know, what would be included to have a representative time-line of significant Winchesters? The Cody Museum wouldn't be much with 4 or 5 examples.

Based on historical significance, would the first multiple choked tube shotgun-the Model 59-qualify?