GUN COLLECTORS lend me your opinion

[ACEarcher]

Hi my name is Adam and I like to collect. Yes, I know it is a terrible sickness. Ok here we go! I've been looking into finding a couple of the older 760 gamemasters (esp. 222,223,243). Well was at a place up north and found 2 760 gamemasters. One in 300.Savage and the other in 222. The 300sav is in good shape used, but good, they want 350. Now I know the 300sav where only made from I think 52'-58' making them somewhat rare. Yay or nay what do you think? The 760 in 222 is in excellent condition and they want like 1095, BUT I can tell the forearm piece was replaced. The stain of the wood on the forearm and the stain of the stock is very different. The serial number on the 222 is in the very low 2000's.Also found several winchester odel 61's in and around $350. Not very knowledgable on the model 61, but Just doing a lil research I think thats a steal. Also saw a Ithaca 37,FWT in 20g,single bead in excellent condition for 285. Yay or Nay?

Sigh, I need a higher paying career & more room.

[Setterman]

Older 760's are well-made, some had some nice finishes and blueing as well. The .300 Savage is a great woods cartridge. Probably just a tic below the .308 in comparison.

[ACEarcher]

Yeah, but these are mostly collector pieces. In my ownership they probably won't see the woods very often.

[Rickhem]

For collector-type values, it's really hard to put a price on things. If it's something that you want, and you have been looking around for, then paying a little extra isn't too big of a deal. If you have the extra money, and this is something that you want, then get it. We regret more the things we took a pass on, much more than the things we spent too much for.

[Setterman]

"We regret more the things we took a pass on, much more than the things we spent too much for".

I agree with Rickhem on this note. At least for me, I lament more things I pass on than purchased. I assume you are collecting only rifles? Have you valued the collectibleness of Remington's vs. Winchester's? My money would be on the Winchester's and anything that says "pre-64". They seem to increase in value every year. Other rifles such as Savage 99's have increased as collectibles over the years, especially the early models. Oddball calibers and one-off production runs are things to look for.

[ACEarcher]

Yeah I have a couple winchesters too. See those remington 760 (760's aren't made anymore) gamemasters in 222 where only made for 2 years and the 223 was only made for 3 or 4 years. Their aren't many around. Same thing with the 760 in 300 sav. It was only made for i think 6-8 years. Yeah I wouldn't mind picking up a savage model 99 too. Their are just so many damn model 99's. Like the 99C,99D,99DE,99E, EGF, and 4-5 more that I haven't mentioned. Ya know one thing I think is going to go up sometime in the furture when it is viewed as a collector iteam? Older Ithaca's (original Ithaca,NY Ithaca guns) Look at it this way Winchester sold out in and every rifle thats pre-64 is worth way more. Ithaca did the same thing. All the newer Ithaca guns say kings Ferry NY and the newest Ithaca guns say something Ohio. So why not the real true original Ithaca's becoming collector iteams in the furture?

[Setterman]

The odder the caliber the better the find. Pre-war Savage's are great finds. Older Ithaca's are great guns. Many were working-man's shotguns so most have seen better days. Not many were many in higher grades. Anything "handmade" with machining, polishing and handwork speaks tomes of old-world quality today. Old Ithaca doubles are slowly gaining ground as collectors. It's already a known entity where Fox's, L.C. Smith's, Parker's, Belgium Browning's and Winchester's are headed in the shotgun collecting arena.

[Barrell]

I only collect 44 magnum chambered rifles because they are so unusual.
I have a Timberwolf which is one of the rarest. They were made by Israeli Arms an only 1000 were ever imported by Spingfield.

[Makoman]

Hey ACE: Would you be interested in a 760BDL LH 30-06? Vintage 1969. Exc. condition.

[ACEarcher]

Mako-

BDL Is that the one with all the really nice engraving on the reciever? Has a bear scene on one side and a deer scene on the other?

[Makoman]

ACE: Negative. The BDL has the basket weave, Monte Carlo stock and forearm and a cheek piece. Mine is actually a BDL Deluxe. It is fitted with a Leupold 2 x 7 scope. I will sell it for $400.00.

[ACEarcher]

Thanks for the offer, but I'm really not looking for a 30-06. If it was the ADL maybe. Thank you though for looking out.

[daveridgwa]

If you want to collect the choice here is the Mod 61 Winchester. The S L LR gun sells from 500 - 1200 depending on having an unfired gun, with all related items such as box, manuel, etc. The 22MAG sells for more. These are very collectable guns. I still have one my Dad bought new for me as my first gun in 1961, and would never part with it for any price.

[Bird Boy]

hey ace, did u get the ithaca? if not, let me know. may be interested in it.
:thup:

[ACEarcher]

I decided not to go for it, but a I told a bud of mine and he picked it up. I did find another in even better shape a couple of months ago that I did pic up. If your looking for a 37 20g you want me to keep an eye out? I don't see many in 20 and fewer in 16, but a lot in 12.

[RUSS0079]

Adam,
Is the 760 in the 300 Savage still up on the chopping block? If so send me the information for the spot. I killed sh-t in AFRICA with that 300 Savage. Very underated caliber.
Russ

[Setterman]

The .300 Savage is a great cartridge and compares favorably to the .308 Winchester. Case volume difference between the two cartridges is only .015 cubic inches when measured to the top of the case neck, .009 cubic inches when measured to the top of the shoulder. The.300 Savage has a shorter case neck, one point its detractors like to highlight. I know the Savage holds about 50 grains of water, compared to about 53 grains of water for the .308 Winchester. (Of course, different cases will produce different volume capacities within a grain of two.) Great round, but eclipsed in popularity by the .308. When the .308 Winny was adopted by NATO that was the death knell.

[ACEarcher]

Russ,

Nah bro that one went a while ago. Infact it went only a day or two after I wrote that post back on 12/8/08. That 222 760 went too only a day or two after. :mad: Kinda pissed at myself for not getting it now. Should forked up the $$$ for it. Shoulda coulda woulda! Just last week I took a trip to Cabelas and saw a 223 760 in the gun library for $1400. The 222 was in better shape than that 223 and the 222 is the rarest of the 760's and I could of gotten it for $1100.

Yeah I was always told about the difference between the 300 sav and the 308 win. Just a popularity contest.

[palefty]

Good luck on your search, the 300 at that price wasnt a bad deal if it was in good condition. You will most likely be more hard pressed to find a 300 savage in excellent condition then you will a 222 or a 223. Got to love the 760s but their value has seemed to drop the last few years. 8 years ago 222 were going in the 1000 range and they still are right around that price point. Dont forget about the others like the 257 roberts, 244, even the 6mm are harder to come by 760s. If you go to gun shows there is usually always a 222, 223 to be had. Just set your price and now what you are buying before you buy it. I have found 222's with different stocks then were standard.

[ACEarcher]

I have found 222's with different stocks then were standard.
Yeah I know about that BS. I've seen dealers put on other stocks to try and up the value and get a better price. I've had dealertell me that the stock wasen't redone, but when I look at it i can see jitter bug marks. You really have to becareful when buying the older stuff and becareful not to step in the BS.

[Hunt of a Lifetime]

I too have that sickness of collecting rifles.
Mine though are of metric design and mauser actions.
can you believe I may sacrifice a rem 700 classic in 257 roberts that is unfired with the orig box to make room for another vintage/custom mauser ? My recent affliction includes a mark x mauser with a custom mcgowen med sporter bbl in 7x57, a 1916 gew mauser rebarreled to 30-06, a 1916 p-14 enfield being redone to a 300 H&H mag.
collecting is fun isnt it ?

[The Ridge]

I too have that sickness of collecting rifles.
Mine though are of metric design and mauser actions.
can you believe I may sacrifice a rem 700 classic in 257 roberts that is unfired with the orig box to make room for another vintage/custom mauser ? My recent affliction includes a mark x mauser with a custom mcgowen med sporter bbl in 7x57, a 1916 gew mauser rebarreled to 30-06, a 1916 p-14 enfield being redone to a 300 H&H mag.
collecting is fun isnt it ?

My freakin heads spinin with all this alpha-numeric verbage:nuts:

[Setterman]

I may sacrifice a rem 700 classic in 257 roberts that is unfired with the orig box

Did Remington make that Classic in the .257 Roberts on their long or short action? I really forget, but I thought they built it on their long action, which would be the right choice.

A couple of years ago my buddy lucked into an estate sale by accident through a co-worker, and picked up two R.F. Sedgely sporters; one on a Springfield action, the other a much-reworked Mauser action. Both were custom-stocked and inlaid with inlays (popular for that period). One is a .30-06, the other is a .308 Norma Magnum. He paid only $750 for both of them two years ago. :eek:

Occasionally, I stumble onto something nice, but I have yet to luck into a deal like that. :(

[ACEarcher]

Oh it's fun when you have the money to spend! LOL Only mauser action rifle I have is a all original K98 and it isen't a russian capture so it has all the bells a whistles still "attached"