I have bought 19 cheap guns this month, mostly just to rub oil on them. They are so cheap, is seems like I order parts from Numrich every day.

Only 3 were Winchesters; 190 semi auto 22 rifle, 37A single shot 12 ga, and a 1968 Model 70 7mmRemMag.

The last one might be interesting.
It has had the front sight removed. It has an old Redfield 4x12x AO scope. It still has the Winchester recoil pad. It has never been glass bedded. There are no scratches on the action screws. There is no wear on the stock, but a few deep scratches. I remember 1968. We threw the guns in my father's trunk and went hunting. The guns sans cases, got scratched.

Clean that 7 rem mag good, you may be supersized at the accuracy of the gun! VB WP

Back in the early 80s my father owned 2 of those same rifles, only one was in 300 win and the other was in 270. The 270 was new and unfired. He kept it for about 6 yrs and sold it for the same amount he paid for it. The next owner fired it the next day.

I likely would have shot it as well.
I collect woodworking tools. But every item must work just as well as the day it was last used. All blades sharp, gears lubed. Every tool in my collection can and has been used for it's intended purpose, with very few exceptions. (It is not likely i will need to shape a ship's mast by hand in the near future. But you never know). But i know every tool will do what is needed.
A gun is just a tool that also must fulfil it's job to have value with me.

They will always sell. Seems cheap guns are the first to sell at gunshows.

Would you consider the Winchester Model 59 to be undesirable ?
Co-worker is trying to sell one. He said the 12 ga is half fiberglass.

It is not desirable. The receiver is alloy and barrel is steel liner with many layers of fiberglass covering. The gold standard in modern classic semi-auto is Remington 1100. Old classic was Browning Auto-5.

Depends on what you are using a 59 for. Not the best for pass shooting, but for quick instinctive point and shoot there are few better. About the worst semi for that work would be a 12Ga 1100.

The 59 receiver was aluminum and the barrel wrapped fiberglass. Ugly as a wort, but few will match it for a Ruffed Grouse shotgun.

The Rem 1100 has been left behind by so many semi-autos they are a has been.

Wouldn't call the 59 a collectable, but you could do worse for quick field work.

The Winchesters I bought it 2016:
69A 22LR $150, love those
37 12 ga $125, I might shot it
1906 22LR pump $195 It took a number of parts from homestead to make it work again
M70 pre 64 30-06 $700, is a 25-06 now
77 22LR tube $200, like the one I had 53 years ago
77 22LR clip, $179
190, 22LR $65, sold as a wall hanger, all it needed was oil
M70 1968, 7mmRM $360
37A 12 ga $145, made in Canada, hmm

Agreed. I used one for awhile. Frank Woolner's grouse gun

I'll pass on the Win M59 but thanks for the comments

Thinking about it, if your co-worker is still interested in letting that 59 go, I might be able to find room for another. Depending on choke, condition, price, etc.

If so, please let me know.

This is an interesting subject. In addition to some collectible pre-War M-70s and 1947-on rifles including M-71s, I have run into some unusual
custom or special rifles:
1958 M70 in 35 Whelen-Win BBL re-bored rechambered-custom SG stock
1948 M70 in 338-06 SG stock


Model 71 long tangs in 450 Alaskan-Deluxe
Two M-71s in 348 Ackley(which is an excellent cartridge)bear-moose
Back when M-70s and M-71s were more reasonable-folks in the north country like Canada-Alaska used or modified existing rifles to suit their purposes. Especially in Alaska.Rifles above are mine and have accounted for moose and deer.LTC-RM

Not familiar with this writer, but he got most of it right. The wood finish typical of older Winchester's will come off with a hard look and the gold plated trigger guard is nothing special.


http://www.wideopenspaces.com/back-future-winchester-model-59/