Insurance value of a highwall?

[guzzijohn]

Need ideas on value for insurance. I bought this about 10 years ago for $750. Various gun shops have valued it from $400  to 2.400. I guess my picture files are big so I can only post two here. I will post two more pictures on another post.

Winchester Highwall with double set triggers
Caliber is a wildcat, .219 Donaldson-Wasp (50gr. bullets at around 3,500 ft. per sec.)
25" barrel   #3???
Weight: 11 pounds
Scope: external adjustment Unertl 8X. Needs reconditioned but holds zero fine. It shows more detail at 100 yards than a Nikon Pro Staff.
Condition: Refer to pictures. The base of the stock appears to have some water damage. It appears to have been reblued and you can make out some fine pitting on the receiver that was not properly polished out before the reblue. There is some bluing wear on the side of the barrel and along the edges of the handle. Wood to metal fit is excellent. It will group five shots right at an inch with usually three of those five under a half inch at 100 yards.
Thanks,
GuzziJohn

[guzzijohn]

Here is a couple more pictures.
GuzziJohn

[Graybeard]

Based on your description and the photos I think the $2400 estimate is merely ridiculous and the price you paid a far more reasonable representation of it's value. Based on condition and all the modifications to it I'd not think a collector would have much interest in it. So it's value is only that of it as a shooter. The chambering reduces its value for that even as it is a bit of an odd ball and always has been.

Now if it were still all original and in that chambering and had not been altered by rebluing and stock change it perhaps could have brought such a price from a collector.

[Frank46]

John, the action itself with the double set triggers and rather elaborate lever would be worth close to if not more than $1000. The unertl scope you could do a search on as there are some dealers on the net that sell them, this would give you a ballpark as to scope value. As far as the wood work is concerned it looks like a 50"s era stock and forend. While not in pristine condition it looks pretty nicely done. Should you care for some more info. Try posting on assra.com which is the american single shot association website. They would be more than happy to help you out. Is the barrel origional to the action, has it been relined?. Look under the forend for any markings as well. The more info you have the better the folks at assra.com can help you out. Hope this helps you out. Should you ever decide to rebarrel to a schuetzen caliber either 32-40 or 38-55 would be your best bet. Since the extractor on your rifle is the same size as the cartridges mentioned, all you would need is a new bbl. Frank

[guzzijohn]

Thanks for the replies Graybeard and Frank 46. Frank, I assume it has been rebarreled. If I remember the highwall production was just through 1920 and I do not believe that the Wasp was developed at that point. I have not been able to find any kind of marking, serial number, etc. any ware on the rifle. I have not removed the forend to look under it yet.
GuzziJohn

[guzzijohn]

The ASSRA site was very helpful. Most that posted think that I have a real Schuetzen action and may have been one out of the factory before it was "varmitized". The bad news is that there is no serial number so it cannot be researched. The good news is that most feel the rifle is still worth around $2,000 even with the changes and the reblue. The action itself is worth around $1,300. Guess I will just leave it as is and enjoy it as the shooter that it is.
GuzziJohn

[Frank46]

John, saw your post on the assra forum. Thought I'd keep my mouth shut and let you garner opinions and comments from folks who know way more about high walls than I do. I just sent out my high wall action with dst and schutzen lever out to get a barrel and wood. I agree with some of the comments you received that the wood on your rifle looks like a schutzen stock set. Rebarreling to either 32-40 or 38-55 wouldn't be all that expensive. I'm having a green mountain winchester #4 bbl with 1x14 twist installed on my action. Now to order the wood. And welcome to the assra site good to have you so don't be a stranger. Frank

[guzzijohn]

Frank 46,
Could you explain the barrel numbering system to me? I am guessing it has to do with the diameter of the barrel?
GuzziJohn

[Frank46]

John, winchester low walls had either a #1 or #2 size barrel and usually thats about as big as they went. However winchester high walls had either the small barrel threads or large barrel threads. The barrel sizes ran from a #1 all the way to a #6 if I remember correctly. Barrel sizes were usually stamped on the bottom flat so you have to take off the forend to see the number. Not all barrels were octagon as round barrels were also used. If you are really interested in high walls may I recomend "the winchester single shot rifle" by John campbell books #1 and #2. Definitely worth the money and will keep you reading for sometime. I'm no expert by any means just love the winchester single shots. Frank

[guzzijohn]

Frank46,
Thanks for the info.
GuzziJohn