I have a 1970 centennial 336 30-30 in good conditionand was wandering if it was worth any more than a non commemorative gun, overall condition is good . Also were commemorative's mad throughout the product line? I have been tossing around the idea of trading up to a larger rifle possibly a 444 or a 45-70 and don't want to leave any thing on the table.

I don't think that the commemorative editions bring any large amounts of extra money. Maybe a little, but it will be the model, condition, and caliber that will determine what someone is willing to pay.
Andrew

 

Personally they do nothing for me.
To a collector ( unless they are very rare ) they would need to be unfired , in the original box with all paperwork and accessories that came with it in order to be worth any more than a shooter of the same model would be.

 

The 70 centennials only bring a small premium to a collector, maybe 25-50 bucks.
I think they may have been made through the whole line, not sure though, I know the 57M also had the emblem in the stock. I have a 336 35 Rem with the emblem.
They made a lot of these in 70. I wouldn't collect these I just stumbled into one when I was looking for a 35 Rem.

If you want one of these always date using the serial number as they sold the emblems separately for a while and they still show up on Ebay.

 

Normally, no.

 

That is what i wanted to know . I have been using it as my thicket gun!

 

Depends.

Depends on condition. New in box, with all the paperwork, unfired would likely be worth the most. More than a non-commemorative of the same model. How much more?

Depends on the occasion. Certain issues were more popular and continue to be more in desire. (Like the Win 92 John Wayne in 32-20--but even that may have peaked a few years back) Who wants to buy it?

Depends on finding an interested party. Is that person a commemorative collector or does he think that one just looks neat? Does it fill the last hole in his collection? Is it the correct caliber?

Depends on whether he collects any caliber or only a certain one.

Depends on your getting it in front of at least one of the guys that "just gotta have it".

Depends on how soon you need to sell it, or how long you can leave it on the block.

Depends on whether you waited too long to sell, like with the Win 92 John Wayne.

Depends on whether you can sell it face to face or if you have to pay a commission to an auction site. Or have to pay transfer fees. Or have to ship it somewhere. Gun shows are good places to sell, but only to the public. A dealer will need to make 75-100 back over what he paid you for it.

Depends on whether it's close to rifle season for deer in a state that allows hunting with 30-30.


The only guns that I've made money on at the sale were ones that grew in demand for reasons I did not anticipate. Can't say that I ever increased my investment on a limited edition or commemorative or something I thought would be worth more. But that's not to say that you won't or can't. You probably don't remember when gun shops had surplus rifles displayed in barrels. Mausers, Springfields, Krags, Swiss Schmidt-Rubens, Springfield Trapdoors, etc. Nothing more than 10.00. Those would have been worth collecting, a few barrels of each...

Nearly all guns that appreciate in value are the ones that are already collector items due to age, scarcity, or provenance. Document, keep safe, wait, repeat. Enjoy owning them, but not shooting them. Try to guess when they've appreciated enough to sell at a profit. There are more likely ways to make money. Just about anything else. Certainly mutual funds are more likely to increase.

Unless you're buying an already known collector, you're better off to buy what you like and then shoot it. If it goes up in value, good for you. If it doesn't, well you enjoyed shooting it, didn't you?

If you want to put a price on your 1970 Centennial, research it on Gun Broker and see what they are going for now.

Good luck.

 

Leadfeather,
Winchester '94 NRA Centennial Went to the range and then the woods ASAP after purchase(at KMART for 89.95).
I lost the box and papers; put a side mount scope on it and scratched the stock. Over the past 48 years I have removed the scope,
installed a fiberoptic front sight and a Williams rear sight. I also had a Lyman 66 on it at one time. Few more dings have been installed
as well.
I have had a great time with the old Winny; she still looks great!

 

A "Century Limited", probably not, I gave less for my 39CL than I gave for my 39A, now my "Brace of 1000" set, those are worth some $$

 

Many times less because there is an ugly feature most people do not care about like a medallion.

 

bingo

 

In the case of the Centennial, it's not generally considered to hold a higher value than any other 336. The reason -- Marlin marketed a medallion kit which anyone could buy and add to their own, non-Centennial 336. Since the medallion was the only thing that distinguished the Centennial from any run-of-the-mill 336, in effect this nullified any collector value it may have had. Generally, collector value of commemoratives comes either from rarity (truly limited production, not just limited to the number they can sell) or features not offered on normal production pieces, or both. You'll see some high prices asked for guns that lack distinction in either regard, but real collectors will rarely bite.

 

In the case of the Centennial, it's not generally considered to hold a higher value than any other 336. The reason -- Marlin marketed a medallion kit which anyone could buy and add to their own, non-Centennial 336. Since the medallion was the only thing that distinguished the Centennial from any run-of-the-mill 336, in effect this nullified any collector value it may have had..

The serial # will indicate if it is a real 1970 model, any collector knows that and to ignore any other year bearing that medallion as a fake. So IMO the medallion kit did not nullify the value of a true 1970 model.
As I mentioned there is only added value to these for a collector who wants one in their collection. I have one and I collect but have no desire to collect these.

 

I can see this won't be the place to sell any of my commeratives when the time comes. I diagree with most of whats been said here as a Marlin collector I would think the 100 yr. commerative model would be significant to those that are proud to own such wonderful rifles. My first 30-30 was a Mountain Man edition and was a inexpensive first purchase but the quality is what hooked me. I will agree that other models that have the coin in the stock on so many 22s seem like a gimmick thing. I'm proud of all my Marlins and think that the 100 yr. commeratives are special celebrating 100 years of manufacturing a fine rifle. First is 30-30 Texan and then the 336 in .35.

 

I have the litter mate to your 30-30.

 

Went to a garage sale one day,guy just put out a few rifles.One was a Winchester Golden Spike,1969,other was a Winchester 66 Centennial,octagon rifle.Both had high polish blue,deluxe wood,both looked new.I asked how much,he went into a long story about how he ruined them by shooting them.He said they now had no value.I said they were worth at least as much as a standard 94.He said he regretted ever shooting them but now just happy to sell them.$75. each.I bought them both.That was last summer lol.Good deal

 

In the eye of the beholder! Some will see it as a positive, some no difference & some a negative. If you are talking just a run of the mill gun with a medallion.
Extra features like engraving, super nice wood nice wood & limited number, that is a different story.

 

Everyone tries to define a collector based on obsolete perceptions. Not every collector goes after rare guns from the 1800's that need white gloves to handle.
Now days people collect anything and everything, some cant afford high end guns and collect 22's from the 50's on, everyone seeks out their own niche.
I started collecting Marlin's not only because I love them but they were affordable...at least until Remington caused JM's to skyrocket.
Most of what I have starts in the late 40's going forward because that is what I know and can afford.
I love Winchesters also but that ship sailed before I could get on board.

 

I have a Centennial 444, (that may be my favorite rifle) and a Centennial 336 30-30 (both from 1970). Both are shooter grade, with their own love bumps and dings. While I would love to find a Centennial 336 in 35 Remington, and a 39A from 1970, I don't see myself paying much more than a regular 336 or 39. It's just something I'd like to do one day, not some "goal" in life or anything. I think the Centennials are neat, and they were marking a special occasion, but I can't keep my hand off of them, and therefore they are nothing real special, just "a little" special. :biggrin:

 

Well at least I can say the still in box 70' 336 30-30 is worth more now than I paid for it twenty years ago.

 

There is only one I would buy. a 94 winnie NRA musket. why ?? I like it!

 

I have been to a lot of auctions that have many commemorative rifles on the tables. The seldom sold for more than the regular rifles. I think most of the folks around hee are buying to use than buying to look at.
That's how I buy things.
Leo

 

Most people don't want the Winchester commemorative's because they are post 64 models, The only one of those I would want is the John Wayne model.

 

A quote from Lt. Col. Brophy's seminal work Marlin Firearms- A History of the Guns and the Company That Made Them :

" In 1970, each Model 336C manufactured had a 100th anniversary medallion embedded into the right side of the stock. "

So much for being "special". My observation has been that the commemoratives seldom fetch more than the others. The exception is when the commemorative model offers feature not available in standard models. And in those instances, the added value is not the commemorative aspect but rather the added features that may appeal to an individual. A case in point is the Savage 99 75th anniversary model made in 1970. It is detested by the collectors for a variety of reasons but it has the lever safety (all 1970 models but the 99C had tang safeties), a straight stock (1970 model 99s had pistol grip stocks) and a 24 inch octagon barrel (only the anniversary model). It also has some machined engraving and brass plating that only a mother could love. It is the functional aspects that make it attractive to some. I have one.

Similarly, Smith and Wesson produced a commemorative, large framed (N frame) revolver in the classic 44-40 chambering with a deep, polished blue, five inch barrel, and an engraved outline of the state of Texas with a covered wagon packaged in a wooden presentation case. The model commemorates the 150th anniversary of Texas' gaining independence from Mexico. A wagon train traveled the state for a year celebrating Texas independence. It is unique in a number of ways and only 4,782 were made in only one year, 1986. Nonetheless, any premium in value is nominal and the S&W 544 appeals mostly to Texans. I have three. :embarassed:

T.S.