I live on a farm that we hunt here in Queenstown, Maryland. I have been hunting for about 6 years now. I typically use my bow or my single shot Westernfield shotgun firing slugs from a smooth barrel. In 2019 my state passed the Straight Wall cartridges and I have wanted to get a rifle but never dropped the ball on the idea. Three days ago a local waterman and friend of mine asked me for help working on his father's truck. I fixed it up and they asked me if I could take a look at an old boat of theirs. My friend knew I have been wanting a rifle and his father worked out a deal with me. He has a bunch of rifles he can't use anymore due to a retina surgery where his doctor said high recoil firearms will damage your eye. Those rifle are a 1902 Savage 99A in .38-55 Winchester, a 1901 Savage 99 A in .32-40 Winchester both have 5 round capacity and 26" barrels which he was adamant at pointing out. They both are in a patina condition as most of the finish is gone. He also has five other rifles those are a Model 1860 Spencer Carbine that his father converted to centerfire in the 1940s in 56-50 Spencer he still has the rimfire parts. It has a 22" barrel and 7 round magazine. It too has a patina finish. The next two rifles are a Springfield Trapdoor 1878 and a Winchester 1892 made in 1912 in .44-40, the Springfield is in .45-70 he also has a Winchester 94 in .45 colt made in the late 80s early 90s, a Marlin 94 in .45 colt and lastly he has a 1908 Winchester re chambered in .30 Carbine. My question is which of these rifles can be written off as useless for deer hunting in terms of the rifle, its caliber and its hunting ability. Each rifle (except the Savage in .32-40) comes with reloading dies, 100 brass cases and whatever ammo he already has loaded. With all this being said which rifles should I steer clear of ? Which rifles should I not pass up on based on their rarity ? Which rifles are best for deer hunting? Lastly, which rifle should I ask for first ? I can ask for two and then I have to buy anymore that I fancy but they have all been appraised and have some pretty high values. The Savage .38-55 is valued at $1900, the Savage .32-40 is valued at $1500, the Trapdoor is valued at $1300, the Spencer is valued at $2000, the Winchester .44-40 is $1100, the Winchester .45 Colt is $900, the Marlin 94 .45 Colt is $1000 and the Winchester .30 Carbine is $1200. However I am not looking for money value more so hunting value and rarity. Thanks to all who reply I have no knowledge of any of these rifles besides the Winchesters as they were in the Cowboy movies lol.
EDIT: I asked that he have the bores looked at by a local gun smith and the Gunsmith said that none of the bores should be in that good of condition. He did however say that the .32-40 had the worst looking bore out of them all although he said he would give it a 6/10. The .30 Carbine had the second worst bore followed by the .44-40, the .45-70, the .56-50 and the .38-55 he said both .45 Colt rifles had the best bores.
EDIT #2: The .30 Carbine rifle has been turned down as the ballistics are poor and so is the rifle's bore. The .32-40 Savage only has 24 rounds of ammunition, no dies and no brass. I cant find any available online.
Rifles that are left are the Savage 99s in 38-55 & 32-40, Trapdoor, Original Spencer Carbine Model 1860, Winchester in .44-40 and .45LC and the Marlin in .45LC
EDIT #3: I have now passed on the .30 carbine, the .32-40, the Winchester .45LC and the .44-40 as it isnt a straightwall and cant legally be used.
Now it is down to the Spencer, .38-55 Savage, Trapdoor and Marlin .45LC.