Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Non-original Pre 64 70s-controversial thread

We all need to lighten up, It may be this guys 'time of the month' or he may be 'going thru the change' LOL....Its all good very best winpoor

I can't see for the life of me understand why there isn't room for everyone who wants to be here? When you log-in, just don't click on those threads that are not of interest. For example, my post about the RIA pre-64's - in the title of the thread I indicated they were, "reblued." If someone has no interest in reblued rifles why give that thread a second thought? When I come here I don't open every thread - and I'm not angry because there are threads here that don't seem relevant to me.

There is room and it will remain so. Have fun, life's to short not to.... Hmmmmm???? Oh, never mind.

There is room for you all in my world - I just like old rifles and shotguns - if it is original and pristine then that is cool and I want to look it over. On the other hand, if someone changed out the butt plate for a recoil pad or had the bolt jewelled then that is fine with me too - original Winchester's were USED by the men who bought them, just like we do with them today. I bought a brand new, 20 year old, Browning Auto-5 Magnum Twelve a couple of years ago to duck and goose hunt with - I KNOW I "lost value" by taking it out of the box and hunting with it - hell, my childern can worry about that at the estate sale - I buy them to use and enjoy. Odessa

Actually the three friends I have would tell you I am not at all pompous....

My only point is this Forum's title has the word Collector in it...much of the stuff posted has nothing to do with collector guns...sorry I stepped on so many toes...that was not my intent...

And Mr. Battue: I usually don't take pics of me and dead animals....my journal does quite well reminding me of my days afield...if you'd like to see my Winchester accumulation I'd be happy to have you stop by at my place in Forest County. Drop me a line to make sure I'm going to be around...

Based on some level of experience, I think in the strictest sense, the definition of the term, "collector" could be, "path to unhappiness." When you are a collector, your focus is on finding something wrong with something. Someone hands you a piece (or posts a picture) the first thing you automatically do is look for flaws. Believe me, I've experienced my share of this mentality, and continue to do so to some degree. Perfectionism and collector easily go hand in hand. People who are perfectionists are not known for their happiness either.

I've noticed the majority of the guys around here tend to look for the positives in a rifle. The fact that they can feel enthused about something with imperfections, flaws or, "character" makes me want to come back

I like your post boltman, but I think it's not just "feeling enthused about something with imperfections", it's more like what battue said about making something a little better. We all know the stocks (finish and checkering) on the pre 64's could have been better coming out of the factory. Heck, throw a McMillan on one like I did my pristine 270 fwt and call it a day. Glass bed them so they shoot lights out too. Life's too short to shoot/hunt a rifle that doesn't drive tacks and look good doing it . Hell, I wouldn't own a magnum pre 64 that wasn't properly glass bedded just because they are known for splitting stocks. Some things are detrimental to a collectors eyes, but if you are going to use them, certain things need to be done to make them better...Why do you think they started putting cross bolts in the 375's and 458's...

No problem, but pics are an accepted medium on the fire for a variety of reasons. Yet many don't post them and seem to enjoy their time here.

I'm up your way Grouse hunting often, but will probably not bother you.

Anyway, I'm would think perhaps you may be familiar with the Winchester Collectors Association. Seems to be more in line with what you find interesting. If you are not familiar with the WCA it may be a more productive use of your time; instead of engaging in a crusade to change us here.

Here is the WCA link if by chance you are not familiar with it. http://winchestercollector.org

They seem to have it all and will probably spend a little time looking around there myself.

However, don't ever hesitate to join in if you have something interesting. Makes no difference if it collector quality or not. These are Winchester guys to the core and they would like to see it.

I agree Battue.

+1

Excellent points.

How about the totally rusted up pre-64 I got from a dumbfu-k from Oregon that was totally useless for anything?, he said it shot great before I bought it.

Happy to report today it's been rerifled and rechambered to 338-06 and now sits in a rimrock syn stock with new bead blasted steel in a matte black cerakote finish.

With it's 1.75-6 Leupold in Leupold dual dovetail B&R's it weighs a good bit less than 8 lbs all up and fires 250 gr Swift-A-Frames into just over half inch groups at 100 yards.

Gunner

Trash it Gunner,matter of fact I'll take off your hand for $10.00.

Pretty generous offer elkhunternm, given he ruined a fine specimen of a character gun....

Yeah,sometimes I just get that "help a fella out" feeling and just can't control myself.

Mr. Battue: Been a WACA member for many years and assume you are, too? I am quite sure many here are not members and I also wonder if they belong to the NRA...but that's another subject entirely.

Have to agree it is probably not a good idea for you to stop by on your grouse hunting forays...

, Thanks Ken and Boltman.

Gunner

No I'm not a member of the WACA, but a life member of the NRA.

OK, but perhaps we will cross paths some time up that way. I'll probably say hi and go on my way. Usually will be in the company of a couple Bird Dogs and people of like persuasions. Good chance I'll be carrying a rat Win shotgun.

Once again, don't hesitate to post anything Winchester here. Pretty fine group of guys if you give them half a chance. They will nit pic now and then but that's about it.

I think for a lot of folks they would rather have a non original Winchester than no Winchester at all.

I'v posted these before so please bear with me. Point being that Winchester is bigger than pristine collector examples or firearms that have never been modified.

Two of the greatest Winchesters ever made.

The Model 12 in 16Gauge. I'm sure there are high end collector examples out there that get some excited. Unfortunately a Grouse hunter will have them looking like this in a few seasons. Needed shortened for my use, so it received a recoil pad. Wood finish was gone, so the right thing to do was give it some protection.








Then there is the Model 59. Gets no love, but one of the greatest pure pointers that Winchester ever made. Would make little sense to pimp this one out either. Finish is going, so it will look different shortly. Will it being non original take away from its excellence in the Grouse Wood?







The above examples have been modified from original. I guess Bob thinks they don't deserve inclusion on the Winchester Collectors Forum. Well, I disagree.

The Winchester that few know about and every bit as good as the originals. It was a reproduction of another companies SxS. I don't know where Bob thinks it should go.