Standard original Winchester field gun in good shape costs about $1500 or more (have seen one for $1200 not long ago but that sold quickly) . Personally I do not know what people see in those and I have no desire to ever own one. I much prefer self-loding gun where I can focus on shooting w/o moving my arm.
If I had one of those original Winchester 42s in high condition I would use it just like any other gun. The way the country is going I'm not sure we will have one in fifty years or so. I certainly would not worry about passing one to the grandkids.