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Thread: You never know what is going to be collectible...

  1. #1
    Boolit Master





    Idaho45guy's Avatar
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    You never know what is going to be collectible...

    Back in 1997 or so, the only hunting rifle I had was a Winchester Model 70 XTR in .257 Roberts. I had taken my first deer, my first elk, and my first antelope with it. But, I felt I needed something with a bit more oopmh for a big bull elk.

    My dad gave me a Model 70 in .35 Whelen that was custom built. I hunted with it that season. Then my wife at the time said she was doing an insurance review and needed to know what my guns were worth. I ended up finding out that custom Winchester was worth about $8k. Well, that was the end of hunting with that!

    So I bought a Ruger M77 with a black synthetic stock and shiny stainless barrel and action. I didn't like how shiny it was in the woods, so I taped the barrel up with camo tape and gave it a custom camo job. Hunted with it for years and years, but never really liked it because it wasn't all that light, the trigger was heavy at 6lbs, and it kicked like a mule.

    I replaced it with a Winchester Model 70 pre-`64 in .30-06 Ackley Improved that is at 7.5 lbs and is a sweet rifle.

    I figured the Ruger was only worth maybe $300 or so since it was the epitome of 90's cheese. Apparently not. They call those rifles the "boat paddle" rifles due to the stock design, and they are now collectible. I searched online and they are going for around $900 to $1200 in good condition.

    But, mine is camouflaged. So, I took it apart tonight and am painstakingly restoring it to factory new condition. No scratches in the finish and no dings or imperfections in the stock. The tape and paint perfectly preserved it all these years.

    I never would have guessed that rifle would become a collector's item. Hopefully going to get it all cleaned up and put together tomorrow and then list it on Gunbroker. Need to buy a new garden shed.

    Attachment 281289
    "Luck don't live out here. Wolves don't kill the unlucky deer; they kill the weak ones..." Jeremy Renner in Wind River

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master pietro's Avatar
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    AAhhhhhhh - The American Dream.....

    .
    Now I lay me down to sleep
    A gun beside me is what I keep
    If I awake, and you're inside
    The coroner's van is your next ride

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    The only gun-related things I've owned that gained value were a Colt National Match (not Gold Cup) pistol and my copy of "Cooper on Handguns". I paid $5 for the magazine, and it's selling for as much as $125 on e-bay. The pistol was purchased in 1967 with reloading bench and equipment for $75, and I sold just the gun for $125 in '71. 10 years later it would have gotten me about $1,000. That model was made in small numbers for only a few years, and Colt collectors noticed it.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master





    Idaho45guy's Avatar
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    Well, 20 years of being painted ruined the appearance of the stock. The finish is splotchy and not perfect. Too bad. Not sure if I'll sell it now if I can't get stupid money for it.

    All the metal work turned out perfect and the rifle is like new.

    Attachment 281321

    Attachment 281322
    "Luck don't live out here. Wolves don't kill the unlucky deer; they kill the weak ones..." Jeremy Renner in Wind River

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    I bet you could still get good money for it.

    Sent from my SM-P580 using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    I went to a gun show at my range today. Everything is a rare collector's item, if you are a gullible impulse buyer. Actually, the boat paddle stocks on older Rugers do fetch a bit of a premium.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check