Winchester 69A story
I was set up at the Albany NY gunshow this past weekend. A member of the NYSACA walked by with two guns he was trying to sell. I asked what he had. One was a standard weight pre 64 Win Mod. 70 in 30-06. Pretty much a plain vanilla rifle. About 90-92% condition. I inquired about the price. He stated “well there is a Winchester collector down there and he had one for 1800 so mine is worth at least that.” I handed it back. I asked what the other rifle was. He said a Winchester 69A. I asked to look at it. Before I even had it in my hands he said it was 100% factory original. I looked it over, matte blue, Pachmayr ˝” solid brown rifle pad, steel grip cap, Schnabel fore end, checkered with point pattern on fore end and pistol grip, barrel mount swivel base. Island type rear sight and base, drilled and tapped for scope, different bolt handle. He said it was his fathers and he got it 30 years ago and it has never been touched.
Now after he told me his bone stock standard 70 was worth all of 1800 and he knew because he was an expert, I had to pop his bubble. I asked him again about the 69A. He reiterated his story. I said” Hate to tell you fined but that 69A isn’t original”. He got very annoyed and said I didn’t know Winchesters. I started to chuckle. I said I know that rifle isn’t original because I did all of that work on it 30+ years ago. Right away he asked who I did it for. I said for me. I owned that rifle and it was a project I worked up. I wanted to make a European styled rifle. I described in detail all of the features I put on it. He then said again, this rifle is 100% factory original. I told him to have a nice day. Needless to say, he was not happy.
Stevie Wonder could have seen that the rifle was not original. Some folks are just in denial.
Some things you have to laugh at. And some people too!
