Can’t seem to establish a reasonable value for a winchester 101 28ga “quail special”. New in box condition. This is a limited edition shotgun made a while back. Any guide lines would be helpful . Thanks.
The Winchester Model 101 "Quail Special" was introduced in 20-gauge in 1984, followed by the 12-gauge in 1985. They were still trying to move the 12-gauges in 1986. In 1987, they brought out the 28-gauge and .410-bore "Quail Specials" and still had some of the 12-gauges to move. The 12- & 28-gauge and .410-bore "Quail Specials" were still in the 1988 catalog and price lists.
You don't see many of them for sale. People are asking $3700 to $5000 for the 28 gauges. They are very similar to the 101 featherweight (straight stock and 25.5" barrels) just different engraving.
Ken
Man those 25 1/2" barrels make it a tough sell. If they were 30" they would sell ten times as fast. Nice looking gun. Just how taste have changed. 40 years ago a double with 30" barrels were a tough sell while shorter barreled guns sold much better. Now it has reversed, long is in and short is out of favor.
Not for me KYJ,
I have a 12 and a 20 gauge Citori Upland Special, each with 25 inch barrels that I would not take a share in the bank for. I have killed as many pheasant with the 20 as with the 12 and the 20 is a delight on quail when I choose not to use my Ruger RL in 28. Actually, I think the Citori barrels are 24 inch on the Upland Specials.
Perry, Glad you are happy. What works for you, works for you. But trying to sell a short barreled gun is not easy when for 20-30 years every gun writer has written about the virtues of long barrels and how short barrels don't give you a long sighting plain or smooth swing. That's why so many Sporting Clay guns are 32-34"'instead of 26". Heck even most of the Skeet guns I see are 32" nine pound tube sets. Short is out of style and might be so for a long time. I liked a short barrel gun in tight hunting situations but other just use a 30" or worse a semi auto 30" gun which is about six inches longer than a double with 39" barrels.
I still say if that gun had 30" barrels it would sell in a heart beat. Even 28" barrels would be an easier sale. You have to find either a 101 collector which is a rare person or a lover of short barrels which is a somewhat less rare bird.
I'd much rather carry a short barreled shotgun, but my clay-bird score as well as my game bag is better with the longer barrels. Well, up to 32" anyway since that's the longest I own...Geo
Saw a NIB 12 sell at $1600 in a local sept auction.
I am not doubting what you say Jon or George. Merely stating MY own personal preference. The major reason I took to short barrels was that they are easier for me to carry when walking behind dogs or when pulling up to shoot over pointing dogs. I have just never favored any barrel over 28 with 26 being my preference until I latched onto the pair of short Citoris.
I know most woodcock and grouse hunters in the Northeastern U.S. love the short barreled guns for those tight aspen and alder thickets. Perhaps the longer barreled guns are preferred when used in clay games or open prairie hunting, but here in Pennsylvania I don't see the shorter barreled guns being harder to sell. I own both long and short lengths, and both have their merits. For me its a matter of picking the right tool for the job. But that is just my humble opinion...
It comes down to who your market is in this case. Best option is to find a collector who puts a premium on what this gun is. Next best is a hunter who likes short barreled guns because he like them when he hunts. Hardest sale will be to a clay target shooter who has been told clay targets are easier with a long barreled gun. I'd start looking for Winchester collectors and see if there is any interest there first. As to price ask high and be willing to lower it if needed.
I bought a Japanese made Winchester 42 high grade limited edition, that was nearly new with the box. But close examination showed it had been shot. So nib value was gone. There were several small dings on the wood but the metal was perfect. I ended up paying less for that than I would have for a original 42 in 50% condition. The reproductions from Japan just are not in as much demand as the originals.
It killed a lot of Doves this year and won my Skeet club shootoff Sunday. I ran the 12 ga. event and had to shoot off doubles against two others. Not caring about winning I went out with my .410 to have some fun. Short shoot off, only went three stations and having not missed the .410 won the day. More luck than skill in this case. But it is a hoot to shoot.
Different strokes for different folks. Clay shooters who premounted and actually aim their guns seem to do better with longer barrels. But many upland bird hunters who are shooting more or less instinctively often opt for the shorter barrels. My favorite wild quail gun is a Lefever DS 16 with 26" barrels. It's all instinctive, I'm often surprised when the gun fires and a bird drops, not being conscious of the swing, trigger, etc. but on clays I immediately revert to some hybrid mix of aimed shot and scores drop like a rock.
My favorite is a Heym 16 ga O/U with 60 CM( 23 3/8") barrels. I agree with Joe Wood. I had these barrels made for Quail, but they worked great with my style of shooting on pheasants and hare also. The chokes are more open than cyl. BTW.
Mike
You don't see many of them for sale. People are asking $3700 to $5000 for the 28 gauges. They are very similar to the 101 featherweight (straight stock and 25.5" barrels) just different engraving.
Ken
While the 28ga is in elite bore category I do not understand this pricing scheme. One can get B.C. Miroku Browing 28ga for quite a bit less than Olin-Kondensha "Winchester". This is exactly analogous to Browning BSS vs. Sakaba. Both are made in same country yet one brand can be found for substantially less.
In EU the Browning known there as B.C. Miroku MK series would sell for more than Winchester 101 because the company still makes them meaning service and spare parts are available while the other company is now a golf course. It's hard to argue with logic, no?
You don't see many of them for sale. People are asking $3700 to $5000 for the 28 gauges. They are very similar to the 101 featherweight (straight stock and 25.5" barrels) just different engraving.
Ken
While the 28ga is in elite bore category I do not understand this pricing scheme. One can get B.C. Miroku Browing 28ga for quite a bit less than Olin-Kondensha "Winchester". This is exactly analogous to Browning BSS vs. Sakaba. Both are made in same country yet one brand can be found for substantially less.
In EU the Browning known there as B.C. Miroku MK series would sell for more than Winchester 101 because the company still makes them meaning service and spare parts are available while the other company is now a golf course. It's hard to argue with logic, no?
The 101 quail special was a limited run gun. I don't know if Winchester actually made the 500 guns for each gauge. You shouldn't compare it with a standard browning citori or BC Miroku for price.
Ken
A member of our "Sunday Morning Joy Boys" group that I shoot skeet with bought a NIB 12-gauge Quail Special for $1400 out the door at one of our local pawn shops this fall. If there were 500 made in each gauge, shouldn't a 12-, 20- & 28-gauge or .410-bore be worth the same?
I love Winchester 101s. Got a few of them in 12ga and 20ga, including a Ruffed Grouse version. JMHO, but the 28ga version is less appealing because they are unfortunately heavy-for-gauge. Again, JMHO.