You'd be surprised at the value of that "oddity" factor! Especially if they can manage to trace the owner's story!
American Indian personalized Winchesters, even in horrible shape bring some amazing prices...
If you could trace it all the way back to say Bat Masterson or any other character of the time, the gun’s price would go way up.
Just an old rifle left in the woods until it rusted and the wood cracked would probaly not bring much at all.