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Winchester 61 ? 4 Bert

bobinwis
Good evening,

Saw a nice model 61, very clean. Serial number 287xxx through Oldguns.Net manufacture date routine yields 1957. The Winchester serialization section for 61's in back of Blue Book says that S/N's for 15 years of model 61's is missing so they took production for those 15 years and portioned them out for each year. This rifle, using that criteria, shows manufacture date of 1961. Who's closest? I don't have Madis' book so can't speak for him.

Thanks, Bob
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello Bob...

    Madis indicates 1958... however, I do not trust his numbers. Frankly, I don't know that it really makes a whole lot of difference... no matter which year you pick, it still does not qualify as a C&R yet.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • snickers
    You might want to check the C&R list. The model 61 is on the list of rifles that qualify.

    MONEY TALKS mine says good-bye
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  • bobinwis
    Bert & Snickers,

    Thanks very much for your input. Qualifying for C&R in this case is not the overriding factor. I was more interested in narrowing down the 'birthday' gap and seeing if there are any other 'dating' services' online. I have a 1949 model 63 that looks like it left the factory yesterday and a 1955 62a in the same condition. Have been looking for a pristine 61 to round out the trio for several months now. Almost had one on auction until a feeding frenzy set in between some other bidders.....was fun to watch.

    Regards, Bob
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  • Bert H.
    For those that really like (collect) Winchester Model 61s, and are interested in high condition specimens, Little John has four of them (one is a SHOT - ONLY) in his June 22-23 auction. All four of these rifles are 98+% condition. I fondled all four of them last Saturday, and plan to stop by his shop to fondle them again this Saturday[^][:D]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • wundudnee
    bobinwis,

    Ned Schwings book states "Factory receiver production records for the years 1954-1963 are lost. The serial numbers given for these years are projections based on the number of Model 61s delivered to the warehouse. Serial numbers for each of these years represents Dec. 31 year end estimates."

    Your serial number 287XXX falls in the 1959 year of production according to this.

    There is no such explanation in Madis's "The Winchester Book" It also gives a date of 1959, with 23,173 produced that year.

    I have the three rifles 61, 62a, 63. My 61 and 63 would be hard to improve on, but the 62a is not quite as nice.

    ....................
    Whenever I see a cow eat grass, I am reminded that "This too shall pass."............ Baxter Black
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  • bobinwis
    Thank you Gentlemen for you answers, it gets more interesting each time.

    Wundudnee: Are you referring to Schwing's Standard Catalog of Firearms, Standard Catalog of Winchesters, or his Standard Catalog of Winchester Slide Action Rifles? He shows up quite a bit in a scan of Barnes and Noble with his name. They sound interesting.

    Have a great Friday, Bob
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  • wundudnee
    Schwing's Slide Action Rifles, volume 1+2 are now out of print in hard cover. The two are now offered as a soft cover combined at Barnes and Noble. If the soft cover is not abridged or condensed, it is an excellent reference. I hear that the original books are now bringing rediculous prices. Sometimes up in the hundreds of dollars.
    A winchester slide action collector must have this book. It is the most complete and interesting I have found.
    picture.JPG

    This Model 63 was manufactured in 1953, and was factory scoped. It is factory drilled and tapped. It doesn't have dovetails in the barrel. The mounts are Redfield and are original. The rifle was dropped and the original Redfield scope was damaged and replaced with a 3X9 Redfield. The 61 and the 62A are also 53s.

    ................
    Whenever I see a cow eat grass, I am reminded that "This too shall pass."............ Baxter Black
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  • bobinwis
    Postscript:

    Thanks for all of the information. I appreciate it. Wife says get some books so you can do your own research.

    The model 61 is now tucked away with the others. The tag on it said 'mfd. in 1958'. Guess that's close enough. I had only looked at it briefly before but careful examination before finally buying it showed it had a 'grooved receiver' as well, never scoped. Only wear marks on the metal are slight marking on the mag. tube where slide wears on it and a little bit barely noticeable at the muzzle on the edge of the metal probably from being cased. Barrel was dirty but came out spotless when cleaned. I know it was in the display case for a couple years. Think I can match pictures with wundudnee now.

    Regards, Bob
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