Don / Old Lightning ,Three guns Value

My boss just asked me to try to find out what several old shotguns are worth. I figured I would try here first. I will get the first opportunity to buy any or all of these pieces.

1966 Winchester model 1200 pump. 16 gauge. Never fired.

Winchester model 1897 pump 12 gauge. (Old but not sure how old)

Riverside Arms, 12 gauge, side by side. (Circa 1940's?)

Any info y'all can give me will be appreciated.

[dongoins]

Ok, the Winchesters as most guns have different grades and models. The 1200 is probably in the $300 range. The 97 is probably a standard grade and worth around $400 but a lot can be bought cheaper than that. If you go to http://oldguns.com/Winser.htm you can look up the year made by the serial number.
On the side by side I will let OL handle that one for I have no information at all on it.

Greetings from Texas. Thanks for your question, my brain was beginning to atrophy due to the lack of double gun questions.
Riverside Arms Co. was a trade name used by Stevens on some of their inexpensive shotguns, sold by a variety of different concerns as their "house gun". The gun is most likely patterned after the venerable Model 311, made between 1931 through 1989. The early (pre-war) guns had no checkering on the stock or forend. It is also possible the Riverside Arms gun was patterned after the Stevens Model 530, another good quality but inexpensive boxlock design manufactured between 1936 and 1954. While neither of these guns have much collector interest, they still command modest prices as a good solid field gun, and are nearly indestructible. Many of today's hunters cut their teeth on guns exactly like this, and a lot of them still use them today. While not a winner in a beauty contest, these guns do what they were designed to to do and do it well, no fancy decoration or frills, just a good dependable meat getter.
Price, like most things, is subjective. A beater may not fetch a hundred bucks, but an unaltered, high-condition example may bring $300+, and even more for the small bore guns. Let us know what happens, and tell us more about these guns if they come your way. Thanks, OL

Thanks guys. I am probably going to try to get the 1200 and the double. I am probably going to pass on the 1897 as I have little use for a high dollar wall hangar. I'll post again when he brings them to the office for me to see.

Jabba, I have 3 1897's, one of which was made in 1898. I still shoot it regularly without a hitch. Unless it is in mint condition I wouldn't consider it a wall hanger. Classic

[dongoins]

By no means is the 97 a wall hanger. It is a fine gun and is sought after by shooting match people all the time. Different parts of the country has different amounts avaibable. Some places you can buy them for 275 or so and other places they are sky high.

How many shotguns does a guy like me need? I don't really consider myself a collector, but maybe I should. All of my guns now are very utilitarian types. I'm sure y'all have tons but you ARE collectors.

Mossberg 500
Ithaca 37 featherlite
JC Higgins Model 20
Stevens model 67 410
Stevens 410 single
Stevens model 67 12 ga

I'd like to pick up an Ithaca model 37 in 16 ga. Maybe the Winchester model 1200 will fill that role, and I do want to get the double, just for sh!ts and giggles. And I NEED a BPS in 10 ga.

I am in hot water with the ol'lady about it. :D Damn it.

[dongoins]

To cure your delima with the wife, buy her a few guns she can call her own. Oh yes, you can probably use them some when she isn't.

I've been trying that Don. She has no interest. I don't want to force her to come shooting with me. She has given it a try and is just not interested. She just busts my balls a little about the money. Not too much really.

I got these guns today from the boss. I have not yet even looked at the 1200 but the 1897 is a little beat up. Not terrible, but it is certainly not mint either. The double is in decent shape and even has some checkering on it. It looks like the stock is firewood. I'll end up with that one for sure.

[dongoins]

If you want to part with the 97 and it is full choke give me a yell.

Jabba, find something your wife likes to shoot. My girlfriend is not of stature or coordination to shoot any longarms, but she loves to shoot my .22 Diamondback revolver. How much? I have seen her go thru a brick of .22's and ask if there were any more. On the upside of that, when, unfortunatly I purchased my late hunting buddys gun collection, she was the one who suggested we go shooting, although she couldn't shoot any of them. She pulled a whole box of claybirds that day and was as happy as I was. Some how, some way get her involved. You will be glad you did. Classic

Don, the 1897 seems to be perfectly functional. It is a modified choke, and has a Damascus Barrel. It was manufactured in 1905 and I was told that it should only be fed black powder shells?

Are you still interested? My gun shop guy said his wild A$$ guess was that it was worth about $300 in the shape it was in. I am going to take it by the Indy 1500 today at lunch time and see if I can get any other opinions. All the guys in the gunshop sure did like to pet it though.

Jabba

[dongoins]

Nah, I would only want it for a shooting match gun. That means full choke. If it is damascus then sell the durn thing to a collector.