mawkie
C&R Whisperer
-Wasn't looking for this puppy, it was one of those "bookmark it for research and a possible bargain opportunity" items. Found this Winnie 1907 along with another in a tiny Iowa auction where a respectable Winchester collection was a big chunk of the catalog. What had my eye was a nice example with Kentucky State Police marks. SN dated it to the very early 50's. I was able to glean a bit of information and found another example with a SN and property number just 18 digits off of this one. It also sported an electro-pencil engraved property number. So I was confident that provenance was good and I found it very appealing.
-The "plain" 1907 sold first when the auction went live. Sadly someone had switched magazines so that the proper 10 round mag for the KYSP example was on the wrong rifle. But I wasn't deterred as there are no lack of factory built 10 round mags out there. Just a bit pricey at around $175-200 these days. So I needed to get the rifle cheap for it to make fiscal sense.
-Cheap came knocking as the first 1907 with "my" 10 round mag sold for only $375. Hundreds under what I would appraise for one in VG condition. So when the KYSP came up I knew the reserve bidder was fixated on a $350 max bid. And I was right as it sold to me for the same price: $375! Now I could source the correct mag and stil be in it for not much more than $600 delivered. Well under what one of these sold for three years ago.
-Showed up yesterday and again condition was much better than the subpar auction photos showed. Very pleased! and they were kind enough to pack it in a padded soft gun case which was much appreciated. I fully expect this one to have been carried more than shot and have significant finish wear but no such thing, it was well loved with minimal wear and tear.
-The Kentucky State police used the Winchester 1907 from about 1952 up to the early 70s when they were retired and sold off. I'm guessing around the time that the new Ruger Mini-14 hit the market with a big splash. The Ruger was less expensive (I remember them selling retail in the low $200 range in the late 70s), with high capacity mags, and a better cartridge. It wouldn't surprise me if that's the direction they went. I know I would have.
-The "plain" 1907 sold first when the auction went live. Sadly someone had switched magazines so that the proper 10 round mag for the KYSP example was on the wrong rifle. But I wasn't deterred as there are no lack of factory built 10 round mags out there. Just a bit pricey at around $175-200 these days. So I needed to get the rifle cheap for it to make fiscal sense.
-Cheap came knocking as the first 1907 with "my" 10 round mag sold for only $375. Hundreds under what I would appraise for one in VG condition. So when the KYSP came up I knew the reserve bidder was fixated on a $350 max bid. And I was right as it sold to me for the same price: $375! Now I could source the correct mag and stil be in it for not much more than $600 delivered. Well under what one of these sold for three years ago.
-Showed up yesterday and again condition was much better than the subpar auction photos showed. Very pleased! and they were kind enough to pack it in a padded soft gun case which was much appreciated. I fully expect this one to have been carried more than shot and have significant finish wear but no such thing, it was well loved with minimal wear and tear.
-The Kentucky State police used the Winchester 1907 from about 1952 up to the early 70s when they were retired and sold off. I'm guessing around the time that the new Ruger Mini-14 hit the market with a big splash. The Ruger was less expensive (I remember them selling retail in the low $200 range in the late 70s), with high capacity mags, and a better cartridge. It wouldn't surprise me if that's the direction they went. I know I would have.
