Price Check on a Winchester Model 71

by Remington40x , SE PA, Friday, May 31, 2013, 10:06 (4139 days ago)

One of my local purveyors of temptation has a Winchester Model 71 rifle for sale. The metalwork is immaculate, with only the slightest bluing wear on the edges, except that the rear sight has been removed, the slot filled and a Lyman peep sight installed. So far, so good. Now the bad part:

The wood would be in like condition, had someone not carved a cougar sitting on a rock on the right side of the buttstock, shortened the butt and installed a white line recoil pad. While I can appreciate the pad on a .348 (which I'd replace with something more appropriate looking), the cougar is just not a value enhancer.

The asking price is $795, which would be a screaming buy, absent the problems with the buttstock. What are your thoughts on the value as described?

Thanks.