i ran into a guy with a Winchester lever action in 45 LC. It is very short, it has a saddle ring, it is an "AE" the receiver is case hardened not blued, no safety of any kind i saw. It has the box and paperwork and apparently unfired. The caveat is at some point it was dropped on the butt and a small piece sheared off with the grain about 2"long and 1' tall. He wants $450 for it, I can't find one on gunbroker or anywhere else that looks like it. Anybody have an idea if this is a good/fair/bad deal?

Probably not bad, but with the injury I would definately haggle.

Sounds like a Trapper model. In mint condition that gun in the box should bring $700 all day long. You just have to decide if the bad place in the stock is worth that much of a discount to you. If the repair is done right it can be almost unnoticeable. Without pics its hard to say if its worth $450 but if the place in the stock is the only spot on the whole gun I say $450 is worth it. If average condition I say not worth it.

I'm not a Winchester fan but I will say that's a fair price. A cheap Rossi 45 colt like I have runs more than that these days. If you don't like it I will be the first to give you your money back.

Thanks guys. I think I am gonna go ahead and buy it. I know this old man, he says it is unfired and I believe him. He has some serious health issues as a result of a spider bite and needs the money. I figure if nothing else I am contributing to the greater good.

The case hardened receiver kinds throws me though, I can't find one anywhere that ain't blued

I've not seen one like that either. Very seldom will you find a pistol caliber Winchester or Marlin for less than 700 tho.

I'll post some pics of it tomorrow when I get it. I figure it's worth helping him out at the least

Without the model number its hard to say what its worth, but IMHO its a deal at 450. You can repair or replace the stock easily.