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Old 08-18-2018, 08:06 PM
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SLT223 SLT223 is offline
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Default Please educate me on Winchester Model 61’s

So I want a Model 61, but don’t know much about them. Is there a certain manufacture year range to seek out? I’ve never shot one, but have fondled one. Is there anything quirky about their design I should know before shelling out for an excellent condition Model 61?
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Old 08-18-2018, 08:25 PM
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Great little rifles! Pre-WW2 production, frequently seen in .22WRF but many in .22 LR/L/S as well, the WRF Winchester Rimfire variants are "collector only" models due to near impossibility of acquiring ammo for shooting purposes.

Very sleek design, internal hammer, takedown action. In .22LR version they are a joy to shoot (paying the price for .22 WRF ammo will take away any joy you might expect!).

Relatively popular, but production was cut short by WW2 and only a few folks were buying new .22 rifles during the Great Depression anyway. So this is one that is not seen every day, and in excellent condition (as described) it is one to put away for the future!

Like most vintage firearms, replacement parts are difficult to find. But the Winchesters of this era are pretty robust and seldom break down unless subjected to mishandling in some way. As long as everything is functioning as it should I would not hesitate to make an offer, hoping to add a Model 61 to the existing herd in the gun safe.

Assuming excellent condition, as described, I would expect a price tag north of $600, perhaps closer to $900, depending on seller's knowledge and need to sell.
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Old 08-18-2018, 08:42 PM
22hipower 22hipower is online now
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The 61s are great little rifles. I so badly wanted one when I was chasing woodchucks in the early '60s in Vermont but what I could afford was a 69A; which served well and I still own. If you're buying one of the earlier ones, pre WWII and maybe into the early '50s, and it is scoped, check to see how many holes are drilled and probably don't buy it. Those holes pretty much ruin any collector value. Sometime in the early 50s (1954?) Winchester started grooving the receivers for scope mounts and perhaps some earlier ones were grooved by gunsmiths. Look for one that is factory original if possible assuming you're interested in maximizing future value as well as shooting fun. Also, they made these for a couple years in 22 WMR (1962/63 I think). I finally found one last year at a somewhat more reasonable price than nice ones ($2k or so) usually command. Good luck.

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Old 08-19-2018, 04:06 AM
alwslate alwslate is offline
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The 61 is a great rifle. I think it came out in 1932. Early rifles had a
smaller forearm than 50s guns. If you want a gun from the 30s be wary
of bore condition. I have a really nice one made in 51 and it is not
grooved for a scope which is the way I like it. If you want to scope a 61
look for a later gun made 54-55 or later.
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Old 08-19-2018, 07:00 AM
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A LGS had 2 of these in 22 mag. I thought way over priced at $2000.00 and $1900.00. Good shape but too much money imo! Another local guy has 10 in 22 mag in a safe.
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Old 08-19-2018, 10:33 AM
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The M61 in 22Magnum cal is getting up there in price.
The $2K mark is not unusual for a very pristine 22mag rifle.
Same for one in 22WRF.

Single caliber rifles, those made AND marked for use as '.22LR Only' or '.22Short only' bring a premium.
Usually with octagon bbl, but IIRC, some 22LR Only models were made w/round bbl also.

Early features,,late features,,,all guns in production seem to have them. It takes some homework to figure what a certain era/yr mfg should look like.
Stock shape changed, butt plates went from checkered steel to black plastic.
Earliest guns were rust blued, then they were Du-Lite blued starting in about 1939/40.
BBl address markings,,there's probably 6 or 7 different roll mark changes just for that,,maybe more. It's good way to tell if the bbl has been replaced, or suspect it has.
Earlier bbls were dated on the bottom as most all Winchesters were, but you can't see the bbl date unless you pull the magazine tube.
..and the bbl date is just that,,the yr the bbl itself was made. Not necessarily the yr the rifle was made.
Early slide latch was very finely checkered. Later it was grooved.
Same with the safety button.
Early guns D&T on the top rear of the trigger group extension for a tang sight. Feature later dropped.
Carrier modified at some point with a simple chamfer on the leading edge to aid feeding, Magnum carriers and recv's marked as such.

Lots of fakes out there now. NIB guns that are actually refinished guns put up in new mfg'd cardboard boxes. The boxes just slightly aged enough to make them look right. Paper work, hand tags and packing paper complete.
The reblue work is excellent and if you don't know what you'r looking at, you most probably will think you have the minty NIB original in hand.
Most all of these are somewhat rare issues like 'single caliber guns' (cal 22LR only,,or cal 22Short only) w/ oct bbls, ect.
So called 'Deluxe' Model 61's with fancy grade AmWal stock and forends, hand checkered and the bolt jeweled also set up nicely in a box w/ papers usually started life as a pretty good condition field grade and went from there for a face lift.
Winchester did make a few of these Deluxe 61models, but not the hundreds and hundreds that litter the market in the last 20+ years.
Engraved specimens too,,way too many engraved examples. Many with gold inlays.
B-carved checkering patterns,, 'Factory' invoices from the Custom Shop included,,ect and on and on.

A real buyer beware field of collecting.

There are NO factory records on the 61 (or 62 or 63). So they are an open field to upgrade and fake.

Recently a few of the real collectors have been tracing the life of some of these special rifles over their travels from dealer to dealer and owner to owner. The internet actions and sales allow that to be done pretty easily now.
There are a quite a number that have appeared as plain lower collector quality field grade rifles (round bbl, used but not abused condition, ect) for sale and then sold. Only later to appear on another site for sale as a completely NIB gun an perhaps with a different bbl (Oct maybe), in a single caliber, maybe a Deluxe Grade, and on it goes.
Same thing goes on with Model 63's and 62/62A's

If you read over on RimfireCentral.com in the Winchester section, there's quite a few threads on this. One 'sticky' just on fake Model 61's alone.
Be careful buying any of this spectacular looking crisp condition hardware.


A nice clean 85% condition rd bbl M61 will generally go $750+,,usually +.
Grooved recv'r usually gets more attention and sell quicker,,I like the smooth top ones myself.

Not unusual to see a really nice 61 priced at just under $1000 these days with just a little haggling room.

Obvious reblued guns, or those with extra D&T holes, cracked stocks, abnormal finish wear ect are still usually priced in the $400 range.
Not many below that.

They certainly are a nice piece of machinery..
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Old 08-19-2018, 11:44 AM
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A wealth of knowledge as expected from this group! Thank you for taking the time to bring me up to speed. I had read some history on production dates, but didn't know about the fraud and lack of factory documentation to support the nefarious activity. When I get one landed in my safe, I'll be sure to post pics.

I hate to admit this, but I mistakenly let a beautiful example slip past me for $1100 locally...I purchased a 9422 Legacy next to it for $900 cash OTD. The 9422 is a great little gallery gun, but is an easier hole to fill in the collection.

My highest priority now is the Model 61, and hope to follow it up swiftly with a Model 63

Last edited by SLT223; 08-19-2018 at 11:45 AM.
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Old 08-19-2018, 07:57 PM
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Ned Schwing's "Winchester Slide-Action Rifles" has an unparalleled wealth of information on the Model 61 (as well as all of the other early Winchester .22 slide rifles), but as it's out of print, be prepared to pay a princely sum for a copy.
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