I'm putting the finishing touches on an article on the Winchester Model 9422 rifle. I thought I'd post an advance copy here for review, particularly by the Winchester fans out there. Any comments/corrections/errors of fact would be appreciated. Thanks!
John
The year was 1972. Winchester Repeating Arms Company had just invested a large amount of money in computer-controlled manufacturing equipment that would help to update their sadly antiquated plant in New Haven, Connecticut. Embarrassed that economy moves had cheapened many of their firearms and tarnished Winchester’s reputation for quality, the management sought to make a new flagship .22 rifle that would erase that image and reflect quality in every respect. The result was the Model 9422, and it did indeed revitalize Winchester’s reputation. Although now no longer made, this lever action look-alike to the time-honored Model 94 .30-30 has become a sought-after modern classic.
In designing the action for the new rifle, the engineers turned for inspiration to a reliable and honored Winchester of the past, the Model 61 pump-action .22. Although that rifle was abandoned in 1964 as too expensive to manufacture by the old methods, Winchester’s new CNC equipment could make a similar action economically feasible. The Model 61 cartridge feed mechanism was distinguished by the fact that the cartridges were under total control from the instant they departed the under-barrel tube magazine. They were held by their rims throughout the feeding process, helping to provide excellent reliability. That action was modified so that it was actuated not by pump rails, but by a traditional under-lever. The rear of the bolt was cammed up solidly into the locking recess in the frame, and there was a concealed polymer buffer above the breech to give the action a very solid feel. The two-piece firing pin could function only when the action was completely closed and locked. From the start, the action was designed to work with the .22 Winchester Magnum rimfire cartridge, and it was easy to scale it down slightly to work with the .22 long rifle round as well. It was the only lever-action .22 available that could accommodate the magnum round. The .22 LR versions could handle .22 LR, .22 Long and .22 Short cartridges interchangeably. The Model 9422 used only a traditional half-cock safety, making it appeal all the more to traditionalists.
Winchester spared no expense in making the rifle as perfect as possible. The best materials were used; a milled forged steel frame and internal parts and a walnut stock were standard. The rifle was attractive, reliable, and accurate. Careful bluing and fitting were employed. Although traditional open sights were utilized, the receiver was grooved for scope mounting if desired. Following the Model 61 precedent, the rifle could be taken down into two major assemblies plus the bolt, allowing cleaning from the breech to protect the muzzle from damage. All in all, the new gun could easily be termed a masterpiece.
From the very start, Winchester found the demand for the new rifles exceeded their capacity to produce them. One of their early ads proclaimed: “We completely underestimated the demand…Read why they’re worth waiting for.” A later ad said: “With most rimfire rifles selling for less money why are shooters standing in line to buy the Winchester 9422?” And then the ad answered its own question by touting “Forged steel. Solid walnut. Classic styling. Modern design.” The 9422 was definitely a premium rifle, and customers were willing to pay the extra bucks. Winchester quality was back with this rifle, and in a big way.
In 1978, the 9422 was upgraded with an optional “XTR” model, which featured high-gloss bluing and a more highly polished stock and fore end. Machine-cut checkering was made standard on this model shortly thereafter. The XTR series ended about 1989, although stock checkering continued. The rifle illustrated here is one of the .22 LR XTRs, made in 1980. Slightly different internals accommodated the .22 LR and .22 magnum cartridges, but in the course of manufacture this was changed. Later guns used the same length of stroke in the bolt and the lever for both rounds, and the larger magnum loading and ejection ports were used for either version. With this change, the .22 LR version would no longer effectively handle .22 Shorts, and the markings on the barrel reflected that the design was now only for .22 LR and .22 Long. Another production change was the substitution of a brass feed tube instead of the original steel type. This was an effort to reduce any problems that might be caused by rust in this critical component.
Special Cheyenne and Cherokee commemoratives were produced in 1977 and 1978, respectively. These came from the Canadian Olin/Winchester plant in Cobourg, Ontario. Matched sets of one thousand deluxe engraved Model 94 and Model 9422 rifles were offered in 1979. The 9422s were all in magnum chambering, and the 94s had 24-inch barrels in caliber .30-30. All had satin gold finishes and matching serial numbers, prefixed by “MC” for the centerfires, and “MR” for the rimfires. They were packed in fitted wooden cases. In 1983, a deluxe engraved version commemorating famed exhibition shooter Annie Oakley was introduced. In that same year, the Eagle Scout Limited Edition came out. This had an engraved pewter-finish frame and a medallion set in the stock. A less elaborate Boy Scouts of America commemorative was also marketed. The following year “The Lady” version was made. “Win Cam” and “Win Tuff” laminated stocks were offered in 1987 and 1989, respectively. 1990 saw the introduction of “Exclusive Magnum” models with some embellishment and in 1995 the lavishly engraved “High Grade” became available at much higher cost. A “Trapper” model with a 16 ¼” barrel was created for those who wanted a shorter, handier version. A 25-year Anniversary Edition in two grades was offered in 1997. In 1998, the “Legacy” model was made. This had a 22 ½ inch barrel rather than the standard 20 ½”, a semi-pistol grip, and a curved buttplate. In effect, it mimicked the handsome old Model 64, which was a variation of the Model 94. At the same time, a large lever loop model was reminiscent of John Wayne with his large-loop Model 1892. In 2003, the “Yellow Boy” with a brass-plated frame and barrel band was offered for a short while. Also in 2003, “9417” rifles chambered for the .17 HMR (Hornady Magnum Rimfire) were introduced in both Traditional and Legacy styles. These were discontinued in 2004.
Following a disastrous labor strike, the Winchester plant in New Haven was sold to a group of former Winchester employees in 1981 and was reorganized as U.S. Repeating Arms Company. It was then licensed by Olin Corporation, the parent company for Winchester, to manufacture Winchester products. The effect on the production of the 9422 was nil, but it should be noted that post-1981 rifles were made by USRAC rather than directly by Winchester.
Although the 9422 was well made of traditional materials with modern machinery, it was still expensive to produce. In 2005, USRAC decided to cease 9422 manufacture. A series of rifles called the “Tribute” editions were produced as the final hurrah. Exactly 9,422 were made in both Traditional and Legacy models, with engraving ranging from very elaborate and expensive to quite reasonable. Both .22 LR and .22 magnum chamberings were employed. The last time the 9422 was listed was in the 2006 Winchester catalog. It ended up as probably the best-made Winchester rifle since 1964 when unfortunate cost-cutting measures were implemented.
In 2006, falling on economic hard times, USRAC called it quits and closed the doors of the old Winchester New Haven plant forever. It’s unknown if the 9422 will be resurrected in some form in the future. If it is, it will probably be made in Japan as are current Model 94s. The Model 9422 was well received, popular, and deserved its reputation as a truly premium .22 lever action rifle. Although exact production figures are unavailable, I personally estimate that about 850,000 were manufactured during its 33-year run. Today, Model 9422s in all their variations are hot items, and selling prices on the used gun market continue to escalate. The shorter Trapper models seem to be the most in demand, and the magnum chamberings also typically merit a premium. Some of the engraved and commemorative versions have sold for very impressive figures at auction. Hail and farewell, Model 9422, one of the best .22s ever made.
(C) 2011 JLM