Yes, I don't know your location, but I bought one about that era at the Beeman headquarters in Santa Rosa. I knew it was not a regular catalog item looks a little funny but I enjoyed every shot.

 

New in box, unfired, is a big plus. When you say .22, I speculate you mean .22 Long Rife rather than .22 WMR. The fact it is a blue steel finish boat paddle rather than a stainless steel finish boat paddle may slightly negatively affect the value but since it is somewhat uncommon, it may slightly increase the value. I think most 77/22 fans associate boat paddle stock with a stainless steel finish. Also, so much depends on local trends and finding the right buyer.

In any event, good luck with your sale.

 

I had a blued 77/22 (with sights) in the "boat paddle" stock with the green inserts. I bought it new in 1990, and never could come to like the plastic stock: it was cold in cold weather, hot in hot weather, and noisy in all weather. I know they now have "collectible" status, but I sold mine more than 20 years ago. The blued steel version of that rifle is much rarer than the stainless steel version.

BRP

 

Definately an uncommon rifle. Could easily end up over $1500 someplace like Gunbroker and possibly more since it is NIB and not a rifle someone cobbled together out of parts and is trying to pawn it off as an original rare gun. Seen it happen too many times. So yours as it is would be very desirable to a lot of people.

 

Why do you think a blued boat paddle is rare? Mine , in 17 hmr, is blued. Id much rather have a stainless.

 

Funny story, my dad really wanted a Winchester model 70 in .223 about 30 years ago, but after being promised several times that some would be available soon from his wholesalers, he bought a Ruger stainless boat paddle one. The first thing he did was take it home, tear it down, paint the barreled action black and cut the factory sling swivels off. 😂😂😂😂
So much for Collectable.

It doesn’t get much use these days, dad is almost 85, occasionally he uses it to take a deer on his friends farm where big rifles would be a bit to much. Mostly at archery type distances.

He has taken a few with it, works for him, nothing made it more than 60 yards. It has been a good one though, he actually turned down a $1500 boat offered in trade.

Sorry for the thread drift. I just thought it was a funny story. One man’s collectable is another man’s workhorse.

 

As for $ 1500 , I dont think so missed this one 2 days ago

 

I got mine for $400. I’ve seen several on GB that went high side of 800 plus shipping etc so over a grand all said and done. Then there others I see like you posted. I guess it’s Right buyer at the right time for those higher prices.

 

I purchased my SS boat paddle for $400 a few months ago. I know of a 77/22 in walnut with a scope on consignment at Turners asking $550. It’s been sitting for a few months. Not the same as NIB for a collector, my guess.

Both my sons prefer the walnut stock so I ordered a new Ruger walnut for it. Been debating if I should hang on to the paddle (green inserts) or sell it.

 

You guys getting a 77/22 no matter what caliber or configuration for $400 in todays market should be counting your blessings and be grateful for what you found. Might want to spend a few of them bucks you saved on some lotto tickets with that kind of luck! Hopefully the seller knew what they had and weren’t taken advantage of. My blued and walnut cost more than that 25 years ago. The days of cheap 77/22’s have been gone for several years now. Keep an eye out online and watch what nice examples sell for. Common models like the varmint sell for 1,000 or more quite often.

Also , I didn’t say the rifle in question was worth x amount of dollars. I said it could possibly reach that number if put up for sale someplace like Gunbroker where it reaches the right audience. And yes , there is a difference between rare and uncommon in the world of firearms valuation. I don’t have access to my notes at the moment to look up the different models but suspect this one was a run back when the new synthetic stocks were coming out and these were made to use up remaining inventory of boat paddle stocks and we’re distributor exclusives.

 

Id say a fair price around here for any 77/22 in very-good condition $800, the Boat Paddle included.

Some people ascribe a much larger price for the Boat Paddle.
Some people hate the Boat Paddle.

I believe the Zytel Boat Paddle stock system might be more inherently precise because of the way the boat paddle stock action screws and ejector block are mounted without loading the middle of the receiver.

I did not think there was any overlap between the Zytel Boat Paddle stock and the later synthetic/plastic stock.