Value of Winchester High Wall

[guzzijohn]

Since you all are single shot junkies I thought you might be able to help. A few years ago I bought a Winchester High Wall in .219 Donaldson-Wasp for $700. This rifle has double set triggers, 25" by 3/4" barrel. Bluing has some wear in spots but is decent overall. Buttstock is nicely grained walnut with some swirl showing. Forearm wood is nice but does not appear to have come from the same wood as the buttstock. The lever has been redone to provide finger holds. It has an Unertl 8x scope. I have taken it to several different gun shops and depending on the shop I  have been given estimates of as little as $400 to as high as $2,200. Sorry that I am unable  to post any pics at this time. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
John

[Rangr44]

The high bid is more like it, IMHO.  The $400 bidder was low-balling you, trying to make a score.

[Lurker]

Hello:
A four hundred dollar evaluation means that someone is trying to rip off you off... I would remember that person.

Since I cannot see your rifle in person, I will have to go on what you said about it. And, I will have to assume that this rifle is an original Winchester 1885 rifle, not a Winchester/Miroku reproduction of the original 1885 Winchester. I think your rifle is worth between $1500.00 and $1800.00 dollars.

If the rifle were in an original black powder caliber, such as 32-40, you could probably tack on another $750.00 to the above evaluation. That would be $2250.00 to $2550.00. And, that is what it would sell for in southern California.

Bill

[guzzijohn]

Thanks for the responses. Yes it is an origional action, not a reproduction. From what research I have been able to do I guess a value of at least $1,200. The $750 price I paid was the best offer the previous owner had received from pawn shops when he needed some quick cash due to DUI problems.. Since we knew each other and I had slobbered over the rifle before he said he would rather see me have it than a pawn shop. This is the first rifle I have owned with double set triggers. They spoil you real quick when it comes to bench rest or varmit shooting. Since I  do not reload (hope to change that soon) I have only fired one type of load with 50 grain bullets. With these I can obtain consistant 1 & 1/4" inch groups. I feel it can do better with some experimenting of different loads.
John

[Rangr44]

Pawnshops are notorious for offering between 10%-20% of what they think a particular item's worth - but that's not a % of it's actual value, of course.

Some pawnshops have an overinflated sense of the value of certain things, and some (conversely) have no clue, and so just shoot off a "price", hoping to make a profit.

[guzzijohn]

At least in my area (central KS) it is difficult to find a firearm at bargain prices at a pawn shop, especially if they do not specialize in firearms. Most will not consider a lower offer that at least in my mind is reasonable, especially when you consider what they probably paid for it. The last resaonable pawn shop buy I made was in Hays at a pawn shop that is also a fairly large gun dealer. That was on a mid 90s vintage Winchester 94 saddle ring carbine in .357 that was in like new condition. I was able to buy it with tax included for $300 (asking price was $375). That was just about a month before Winchester announced they would no longer be producing them.
John

[RugerNo3]

The High Wall is chambered for a wildcat cartridge. Not an attraction in the retail trade, hence low offers. Reloaders are in the 3% bracket of all shooters, today, so any shop will be real conservative on price. How many years do they want to sit on it if it were theirs. Not nit-picking but you can believe the numbers.

[smk]

The unertl alone would bring at least $400. That gun would easily bring $1500 on Gunbroker or at the shows I go to. This would be very easy to sell. A high wall .219 Zipper with rust on the scope, barrel, action and a dark bore just sold for $1,492 on Gunbroker last week.

[guzzijohn]

SMK,
Thanks  for the additional information. Everyones  comments have helped to  give a little more of an idea what the  rifle may be worth, especially for insurance value.
John

[tom ga hunter]

eabco has 219 donnelson ammo for sale on ppg 49 of their current catalogue

[guzzijohn]

Thanks for the info on finding loaded .219s. When I first bought this highwall I purchased 100 cases (I think through Buffalo Arms) and reloading dies. I use Bob's Ammo box in Florida to load them for me. It has been more than a year since I had them reloaded and cost me
 .50 a round plus shipping which I think was a fair price.
John