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Unfired collecter rifle
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Found a great deal on a 16yearold unfired Collecter classic bolt rifle in 300wby.Should I shoot it or sell or keep in unfired condition?What is the drawing Line on collectable rifles?Will the value decrease all that much?I need everyones input to shoot or not to shoot.I got it at a bargain dirt cheap price.Anyone had this problem before?It would make a great Bear & Hog Rifle..........Deer too.....
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DoubleD
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(.400 member)
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27/07/04 08:26 AM
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Collector Classic???
Do you mean Remington 700 Classic in 300 Wby?
If so it was made in 1989. These thing generally command a minor premium in absolutely Mint condition still in the box. My book shows a mint 700 classic is worth $555.
If it isn't absolutely 100% mint, bolt never opened, in the un-opened box , I'd just shoot it!!,
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Thanks DoubleD,Thats what I thought,I just didnt know for sure.They will never be worth much,even after all those years,The ruger,winchesters & brownings are about the same right?I guess one would have to have a mint pre64 rifle to call it a collecter?
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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How many classics were made in the 300wby.?For north america,the 300wby.should get the job done in spades,Anyone own a classic in 300wby.& had any experinces good or bad?I have owned other classics in the past and they all were tack drivers.....
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DoubleD
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(.400 member)
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28/07/04 01:19 AM
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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All the Classic series are "limited edition" But no numbers given.
Limited to 100 rifle would be nice. Limited to 10,000 rifles is not so nice. That's what most of of the Winchester 1894 collectors editions are, 10,000. Even limiting them to 1,000 units might start the true collectors scurrying if it was stated right up front.
I don't know for sure, but I don't think the classics are even give a special serial number group.
I had never fired a 300 WBY I liked until I went to work for KDF. Once they had a muzzle brake installed they didn't kick the snot out of you and they were very accurate. Of course it was lonely shooting them that way. Nobody would stay around and take the beating from the muzzle blast.
Thanks if I need a 30 cal mag, I'll stick with my 308 Norma.
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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If your rifle is one of the Remington Classics chambered for a different cartridge every year. The production number would be 2500. John Lacy states in "The Remington 700", that max production is 2500 units per year. By the way-- the one you want (for collecting) is the Classic in 300 H + H, 1982 run. The total of 2500 sold was not met. It is the chambering that is least available.
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Thanks buckeye,Is there a way to find out how many were actually made every year or is the 2500 number about right every year?I wonder how many rifles are made every year by the other factories,like how many ruger 77 or how many winchester model 70..etc.I have noticed a few unfired model 100 & 88 winchesters & ruger#3 selling pretty high...
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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BB Hunter,
The 2500 number is good for the Remington 700 Classic limited edition for each year. Remember that there is a 700 Classic in standard and Magnum chamberings that is available at any time. So for example, a 30-06 classic will be readily available in very large numbers. The 700 Classic yearly limited editions are actually made in the Custom Shop as opposed to the regular assembly line.
As far as other brands go. I have called the Ruger factory about some of the rifles I own, they will give you date of manufacture and where it was shipped but they will not give out how many of a model they produced. I have a 77RSC in 458, that I would love to know the production number on! The Ruger #3 is definately a collectors item. They were chambered in 44 mag, 22 hornet, 30-40 krag, 375 winchester and 45/70. The 375 Win and 30-40 were very limited in production.
With Winchester, you can generally get production information as far as when made, where shipped and how many chambered from the factory with a "Factory Letter" or from the Winchester's Collector's Association/ Cody Museum. Both of these options involve a charge of about $50.00.
I hope this information helps you in evaluation of your guns. The good news is -- they always seem to go up in value and they don't eat too much! 
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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This thread has got me thinking,has the good old days done come and gone?Seems like the good guns and prices have.In the old days you could at least buy a common double barrel shotgun like a lc smith or parker or fox or savage?Now all we can get for working class hunters in a double is the russian baikel or stoger Brazeil POS>.When did it all go south so much?African safaris in the 60s were so cheap you could safari for a month and shoot the big five and all,even tiger hunt in india.Now days it is just so much more expensive,Do the old timers think it was just as high back then as it is today for the american working class man?I would hate to think were it all will end.Lotto drawings for short seasons i would guess.The real old rifles out there now will surely be collecters and very valuable.Do you collecters see the pre 64 winchesters like the 94 lever and the rest being like gold someday?Will all the future guns be plastic?
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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 Let me clue you in to something my lad, back when African hunts were so cheap, gas was 15 cents a gallon, snuff was a nickle and a whore was $2.25 in Hollywood...Most of us made about $250 a month and our new car cost $1500 but most had to buy a second hand car, as in my case cattle were down to 12 cents a pound...
bottom line, your sh--t'en in tall cotton today, trust me on this one and enjoy the good life, no food lines, and gas, coffee and tea ain't rationed....
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Holy sheep-dip  Next Ray will give us the ole story of walking to school up hill both way's bare footed in three feet of snow leading aunt Lucey's cow so the other kiddies could have milk for their gruel!!  Just kiddin ya Ray, and yes we sure are spoiled... I've felt if you wanted to straighten out a spoiled kid, take him/her to walk the streets of Lusaka or any other African town or village.. Worked for me!...
450Dakota
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Ray, the quickest way to make a small fortune farming is to start with a large one.
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Buckeyeshooter -
You mean my Ruger #3 in 375 Winchester is a collector's item? There was a five year time in which I tried to sell it on consignment and never even got an offer. I find it too heavy, just doesn't handle very well, athough chambering is great.
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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If it is in excellent condition, you might be amazed at how many folks would be interest at say an Ohio Gun Collectors Show. They seem to sell very well in my area.
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mbogo375
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(.275 member)
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05/10/04 01:46 AM
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Guess that the #3 in 375 Win with rings and bases, and in excellent condition for $325 that I bought recently wasn't too bad a deal then .
Jim
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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JIm,
It would probably sell at a OGC Show for between $500 to $600 in excellent condition with rings, bases and factory box and papers.
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Thanks, that is good to know. I am definitely not a collector (of anything) but it is amazing how over the years things can accumulate.
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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Will the ruger express rifles in the smaller calibers be collecters before long?I think they quit making them....I know I could have bought theRuger#1- 45-70 50yr.special engraved for around 800.00 2 yr.ago and they are like 1200.00 today......Shoulda jumpped on it then....Didnt they quit makeing the 7stw in laminated stock/stainless#1 also...Never have handled a #3 but they sure look handy...
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DUGABOY1
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(.400 member)
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15/12/04 09:56 AM
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Re: Unfired collecter rifle
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I have a Ruger No1 V bull barrel Varment rifle, factory chambered for 7mm Rem Mag. They only made a few of them, so chambered, in the mid 1960s. I also had a No1 light sporter chambered for the 7mmRem Mag as well, and it is even rarer than the No1 V in 7mm mag. However I don't think there will ever be a mod 700, of any discription, that will become a collector piece. like all the push feed rifles made in the USA back in the sixties, and early seventies will simply be used rifles, unless VERY RARE! The Ruger No1s being the exception!
The Ruger No3 chambered for 375 Win, would be easy to chamber to 375 JDJ, now that factory ammo is avaliable for it! They both have a 1-12' twist barrel. It would be a lot better if a No1 stock was installed, however. Just my opinion. 
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Ross
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(.224 member)
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28/12/04 12:41 PM
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Re: Unfired collector rifle
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My Ruger No. 3 in .375 H&H is not unfired, but probably never will wear out. My masochist friends all want to try it once.
It does seem to be a collector or loaner, rather than a frequent user.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross
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bonanza
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(.400 member)
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29/12/04 01:51 AM
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Re: Unfired collector rifle
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Try squezing off a #3 in 45/70 with a hot load. The #3 also came as bizare 223 varmit model.
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