Winchester Repeating Arms Company - Standard Catalog of Winchester Firearms

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When I think of the word dedication, I cannot escape thinking of my parents, Doc and Ava Cornell. These were very extraordinary people, and I was blessed with having them as my family.

Everything that I am, or have, which is good, is directly due to their influence. I would like the world to know how much I love them, and how important they are to me.

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Model 1300 NWTF Short Turkey.

Model 21 Grand American, Closeup of Receiver.

By Joseph Madden Cornell, CMA, ASA, ISA

2655 WEST 39th AVENUE | DENVER, COLORADO 80211

303-455-1770 | www.weappraiseguns.com

Model 21 Grand American Two-Barrel Set.

This book represents my continuing commitment to follow the tradition of the Standard Encyclopedia of Firearms, which is to produce the very best informational/informative book available to help those interested in firearm research, pricing information, and identification. As a multifaceted book, I am dedicated to supplying the best in firearm information, well thought out, knowledgeable opinions as to pricing, and pertinent descriptions along with pictures intended to help our readers identify particular firearms they find in the marketplace. It is my intention to make this an important book for all who are interested in Winchesters.

It is important for my readers to know that I am a gunologist, and I study gunology. This is what I do, this is what I have done, and this is what I will continue to do. I have been immersed in the firearm marketplace, on an almost every day basis, for almost 60 years. This is because I appraise thousands and thousands of guns a year, and I do research on gun values and gun pricing almost every single day.

I intend to provide general as well as specific information about Winchester and Winchesters firearm models. Information is power, and it is my never-ending intention to supply my readers with as much quality, accurate information, and therefore power, as is reasonably possible. It is my intention to provide a maximum number of pictures of various Winchesters, this is because I believe that while a picture may not be worth 1000 words, pictures can and do provide valuable information that the written word is ill-suited to match. I wish for my readers to recognize that purchasing this book is an excellent investment, as this book provides them with real knowledge, and therefore real power, that has real practical value as they pursue their involvement in the firearm marketplace. In short, I shall endeavor to be the best source for pricing information, research, and identification available today in the United States. This is a tall order, and while I realize perfection is impossible, I intend on doing my very best. In this regard, I take my responsibility very seriously.

While pricing information is important, I see myself as being able to provide the collector with valuable information when it comes to identifying various Winchesters and their variations, with which the collector comes in contact. Winchester made many models, and while manufacturing these various models, Winchester made many changes to these models as they were being produced. These variations provide much of the basis for the collector interest in Winchester firearms. Certainly, one of our main objectives is to help collectors identify these variations within the same model. In addition, it by will endeavor to deal with these variations in a manner that will provide the collector with the maximum amount of information as to how the dissimilarity of weapons within the same model can, and does, very dramatically in price. I want to give my readers an advantage in the highly sophisticated and competitive arena that surrounds the collection of Winchester firearms.

Super X3 Composite. Photo Courtesy U. S. Repeating Arms Company.

For many models, condition is everything, and is often more important than any other single factor.

Rarity does not always determine value. Rarity can have monumental effects on value, but also, in some cases, rarity can have little effect on value. For instance, all condition factors being equal, a rare one-of-a-kind Winchester single-shot 22 will not be, relatively speaking, as valuable, nor as desirable, as a rare one-of-a-kind Winchester model 1886.

Some models have very low collector interest, while other models have very high collector interest. There are a lot of different reasons for variations in the desirability of the different Winchester models, e.g., historical, mystique, notoriety, interesting variations within the model, period of manufacture, cinematic exposure, obscurity, celebrity association, sex appeal, reputation in the firearm industry and amongst other firearm collectors, etc.

Some models and variations of that model, while manufactured in large numbers, seem, for one reason or another, to lack availability in the marketplace. In order to have mass collector appeal, large numbers of a particular model must be available in the marketplace so that many people can become interested in it and cause it to undergo accumulation.

Other than condition, nothing causes more interest in the Winchester collector community than factory special order enhancements.

Aftermarket enhancements, such as being engraved by some famous personage, can also dramatically increase the value of a firearm.

Ownership by famous individuals, or association with historical events, can vastly increase the value of a firearm.