Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Pre 64 African .458. Shoot or No Shoot?

Posts: 4760
Nope. Leave it alone.

But I would sell it because I expect demographic shifts will gradually soften the collector market. (More collections coming on the market than new collectors getting started.)

I too think this may be the gist of it. How the hell can any ordinary guy get into this stuff?
Why would mr. ordinary want to? Is this stuff going to keep going up?
I did hear a gold bug say one day.."I can't tell you if gold is going up or down tomorrow, but I can tell you in ten years it will be less than it is today"

Interesting that some guys will run a $35-$40,000 truck up a mountain switchback, or run it through snow and bog holes for two weeks during hunting season, but grow faint at the notion of hunting a couple weeks with a $9k rifle.

African pro's used to sink an entire years salary into a life-saver double,and use it for decades.

Curious...

Bob, good point. But an African PH should easily be able to rationalize spending the price of a really good rifle which he will use over and over, virtually every working day of his life, and on which his very life and livelihood depends. Someone who may hunt w/ it only those years when the right tag comes up will have to do more than rationalize.

The other thing is that, in this case, taking a MINT, unfired collector's piece on a 2-week hunt could easily reduce its value by $1,000's. Where, w/ just a little care, your $40,000 used truck will still be worth $40,000, when you get home.

Good God yes Bob, it would be a sheer pleasure and honor to hunt that great rifle, its a made killer.....and I would be pleased to let it do so

Gunner

This thread has got me thinkin' again ....I think I'm gonna set out to find a rifle just like the one being discussed here and buy it.

Got around 33 700 weight steers ready for market in October

Gunner

You want to venture into model 70's knowing wtf you are doing.

Yessir...I have pre-64 Supergrades in 22 Hornet and 300 H&H, and standard rifles in 270 and 30-06.
I know what to look for on suspect rifles.

Gunner

It would be difficult to fake a 458. Especially with the serial no. Range, rear sight and special stock.

Thats right, the M-70 Africans and Alaskans are about a breed unto there own

And no disrespect intended towards your rifle Cartod, I couldnt help but hunt that beautiful basher.

Gunner

I hear ya. I'm not a wealthy person though. As much as I want to take it out and kill mice with it, my other judgement says keep it pristine and fund my retirement.

I'm kind of caught between a crap and a sweat.

I understand, and I'm not wealthy either, just and old overworked/overtaxed work mule that love's cool rifle's.

Gunner

And no chit BSA, thats beyond sweetness.

Gunner

I love using the pre64's but that's too nice. I'd have a hard time dragging it out when I knew I could have a similar one in something like a ruger m77 instead....Or even one of the newer less desireable/collectable ones....:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535116

I know, why have it if you arn't going to use it but man, I'd have a hard time...

Your a better man than me

Gunner

There is no bigger fan of pre 64 M70's than me....but I have to admit that the pricing lately is getting a bit insane.I was never one to be drawn into the collector side of the M70 arena....I alwasy looked at them as something I wanted to hunt with,so my opinion on this may be prejudiced...

Heck Bob, a fine rifle is like a fine Woman, you wanna pick em and hold em, give em a good lookin' over

Gunner

Gunner I agree.....but at $9k hopefully I'm gonna do more with the woman than just look at her...

Well yes Bob, after the thorough inspection, then ya work the hades outta them

Gunner

I like fine women and nice rifles too, but that doesn't mean I'm going to take them out behind the wood shed and abuse the hell out of em.. Trust me, they would get used but maybe pampered a little more than some of the others....Just sayin....