'morning millman! I agree...I think the gun is rare as far as number of them out there though. I still can't find a direct cross on the model number.
Often when I was researching my WesternField M855, my Sears Long Range Winner and now GM's rifle, I find forum posts that go something like.."WTB - WesternField Model XXXX. My grandfather had one of these when I was a kid...". It seems like a lot of these rifles were picked up at the local Wards, Sears, Western Auto and True Value stores back in the day. It also seems like a lot of them were set up on a couple of nails out in the barn or tossed behind the seat of the pick up. The guys who bought Mossbergs, Savages, etc. all seemed to buy them as shooters and hunting rifles and tended to keep them in a case or put up somewhere safe. Not all of course, but just my general perception.
The more grand-dad age guys we get fondly remembering shooting that ol' Wards .22 with their grand-dad, the more they will become desired. Also, as these stores become history themselves or quit selling firearms, then that gives them a boost too. You can't buy a 44US from Mossberg anymore of course...but you can't buy anything at all from Western Auto. I don't think they will ever become highly prized collector items...but I do think they will become a solid "grass roots" collector item.
I bought mine just to shoot...but I keep telling myself the above to make me feel good about it
Cocked, locked and ready to rock...
