Here's another draft article for you to peruse! As always, comments welcome.
Best,
John
The Winchester Model 64 Rifle
In 1971, to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the NRA, the National Rifle Association authorized the Winchester Repeating Firearms Company to manufacture two special rifles to commemorate the event. Both were based on the John Browning-designed Model 94 lever action rifle. One was a “musket” that had a full-length stock in the old military style often seen on the early Winchester “Winder” high-wall single shot rifles. To my mind, it was ungainly if not outright ugly. The other was an extremely graceful rifle that mimicked the long-out-of-print Winchester Model 64. This one was aesthetically pleasing. It had a 24-inch barrel, a short 2/3 length tubular magazine, and a pistol-grip butt stock matched by a curved operating lever. Both these guns had a commemorative medallion imbedded in the butt stock. I could not get that second rifle out of my mind, as the configuration seemed just right and more attractive than most Model 94s I had yet seen. So I bought one. I soon regretted it and sold it. For one thing, commemorative firearms are intended to be preserved unfired. Firing them almost always reduces their value. I would not fire it. Secondly, this post-1964 rifle utilized cheesy stampings, a cast receiver that had to be “blackened” as it did not take traditional bluing well, and wood-to-metal fit that was less than perfect. Its outline was nice, but on close inspection, it failed to live up to traditional (pre-1964) craftsmanship. What that rifle did do for me was instill a desire to own a real pre-1964 Model 64 in well-preserved condition.
Fast-forward to the year 2013. Cruising a local gun show, I noticed a for-sale rifle standing upright in a rack. It looked familiar, so I asked to handle it. My dreams had come true. It was a beautiful early Winchester Model 64 in stunning original condition. The deep bluing was outstanding, and it came complete with a (probably) factory-equipped Redfield peep rear sight! The near-perfect walnut stock had just a few very minor dings in the factory finish, belying the fact that this rifle was probably born in the 1930s. The wood-to-metal fit was absolutely on the money in every respect. The seller said he had obtained it from the estate of an old gentleman who claimed that he had bought it new, as his family recalled, around 1939. It was quite evident that it was seldom, if ever, used and carefully maintained. My negotiating skills went into high gear, and the result was that I walked away with that incredibly beautiful Winchester.
I immediately sent off a request to the Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming. The people there maintain many of the original Winchester manufacturing records. All they could tell me was that they found a Model 94 receiver serial number that matched the one on my rifle, and it showed it was serial-stamped in 1936. It’s worth noting that Model 94 and Model 64 receivers all came from the same bins, and further manufacturing determined the particular model number assigned. Usually, receivers were made into rifles within a year or so following the application of the serial number.
I have a Winchester sales catalog that dates from 1939, and it gives a revealing glimpse of the Model 64 as made in that era. To quote that catalog: “Meets high standards in quick and accurate handling and all-around efficiency, improved N.R.A. type walnut stock with steel butt plate and full pistol grip; walnut forearm, solid frame, with a choice of 24” or 20” barrel, except .219 Zipper has 26” only. Two-thirds magazine, holding five cartridges, making - with one in the chamber - a six-shot repeater …weight approximately 7 to 7¼ lbs., according to caliber and barrel length.” It showed that the available chamberings were .219 Zipper, 25-35, .30-30 or .32 Winchester Special. My rifle is chambered for the widely available .30-30, and has the 24” barrel. The catalog also lists a Model 64 “Deer Rifle” which was often called the “deluxe” model. It had special styling, checkering on the stock and forearm, and was equipped with a 1” sling using quick-detachable sling swivels. The pistol grip was finished with a blued steel cap. Double-set triggers could be had on special order. This rifle was offered in .30-30 or .32 Winchester Special calibers only.
Historically, the Model 64 stems from the Model 55, which was first offered around 1924 and finally discontinued in 1935. It had a Model 94 receiver, a 24” barrel, and a half magazine. About 21,000 were manufactured over its production life. In 1933, the Model 64 was introduced, slated to supersede the Model 55. It was configured as related in the 1939 catalog quote above. The 20” barrel option was first offered in 1934. The .219 Zipper “varmint” variation was introduced in 1937. That cartridge was simply the .30-30 with its neck reduced in caliber to .22. Some rare ones in this caliber were made with 20” inch barrels instead of the standard 26”. A few very rare .32-40 and .38-55s were made through 1937 – beware of fakes!
Model 64 receivers were drilled and tapped for receiver peep sights, and the factory could provide these on the guns, usually of Lyman or Redfield make. It’s entirely possible that the Redfield sight on my gun was factory installed. The standard barrel-mounted rear sight had a central sliding elevator and a fine-tune replaceable stamped thin blued-metal notch plate which was available in varying heights. The entire sight could be drifted right or left in its barrel notch for windage adjustment. The front sight was a hooded bead type on a ramp integral with the barrel, not laterally adjustable. The forearm was of the “semi-beavertail” type, not bulbous, but fairly slim, secured by a blued steel cap. It’s been claimed that gun writer and famous shooter Col. Townsend Whelen had a hand in the design.
Winchester ceased production of the Model 64 in 1942, when it began production of military arms for WWII. Production began again in 1948 in .30-30 and .32 Winchester Special only. Some hard rubber buttplates were evidently made as substitutes for the standard steel variety. Production of the post-war rifles was terminated in late 1957. Total production numbers are not easily estimated due to the commonality of Model 94 and Model 64 receiver serial numbers, but probably over 66,000 were made.
Around 1972, perhaps prompted by its manufacture of the NRA commemorative rifle, Winchester attempted a revival of the Model 64, but utilizing the “blackened” post-1964 cast receivers. These rifles were equipped with quick-detachable sling swivels and M1907-style leather slings. All were in .30-30 caliber. These Model 64A’s were not well received, and production was stopped in 1973. In 2015, Winchester offered exactly 250 Model 64 reproductions, made by Miroku in Japan, exclusively for Cabella’s sporting goods stores. These were equipped with tang safeties, were well made, and fairly expensive.
Original Model 64s made in the “quality” pre-war years are exceptionally graceful, easy handling, fast-operating and nearly perfect deer rifles. I would vote them as among the most handsome of all the Winchester lever action rifles. I am glad to have found one in exceptional condition. If you come across one, snap it up before the knowledgeable guy or gal behind you has a chance to see it! These are classic firearms and well worth finding.
(c) 2016 JLM
Best,
John
The Winchester Model 64 Rifle
In 1971, to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the NRA, the National Rifle Association authorized the Winchester Repeating Firearms Company to manufacture two special rifles to commemorate the event. Both were based on the John Browning-designed Model 94 lever action rifle. One was a “musket” that had a full-length stock in the old military style often seen on the early Winchester “Winder” high-wall single shot rifles. To my mind, it was ungainly if not outright ugly. The other was an extremely graceful rifle that mimicked the long-out-of-print Winchester Model 64. This one was aesthetically pleasing. It had a 24-inch barrel, a short 2/3 length tubular magazine, and a pistol-grip butt stock matched by a curved operating lever. Both these guns had a commemorative medallion imbedded in the butt stock. I could not get that second rifle out of my mind, as the configuration seemed just right and more attractive than most Model 94s I had yet seen. So I bought one. I soon regretted it and sold it. For one thing, commemorative firearms are intended to be preserved unfired. Firing them almost always reduces their value. I would not fire it. Secondly, this post-1964 rifle utilized cheesy stampings, a cast receiver that had to be “blackened” as it did not take traditional bluing well, and wood-to-metal fit that was less than perfect. Its outline was nice, but on close inspection, it failed to live up to traditional (pre-1964) craftsmanship. What that rifle did do for me was instill a desire to own a real pre-1964 Model 64 in well-preserved condition.
Fast-forward to the year 2013. Cruising a local gun show, I noticed a for-sale rifle standing upright in a rack. It looked familiar, so I asked to handle it. My dreams had come true. It was a beautiful early Winchester Model 64 in stunning original condition. The deep bluing was outstanding, and it came complete with a (probably) factory-equipped Redfield peep rear sight! The near-perfect walnut stock had just a few very minor dings in the factory finish, belying the fact that this rifle was probably born in the 1930s. The wood-to-metal fit was absolutely on the money in every respect. The seller said he had obtained it from the estate of an old gentleman who claimed that he had bought it new, as his family recalled, around 1939. It was quite evident that it was seldom, if ever, used and carefully maintained. My negotiating skills went into high gear, and the result was that I walked away with that incredibly beautiful Winchester.
I immediately sent off a request to the Cody Firearms Museum in Cody, Wyoming. The people there maintain many of the original Winchester manufacturing records. All they could tell me was that they found a Model 94 receiver serial number that matched the one on my rifle, and it showed it was serial-stamped in 1936. It’s worth noting that Model 94 and Model 64 receivers all came from the same bins, and further manufacturing determined the particular model number assigned. Usually, receivers were made into rifles within a year or so following the application of the serial number.
I have a Winchester sales catalog that dates from 1939, and it gives a revealing glimpse of the Model 64 as made in that era. To quote that catalog: “Meets high standards in quick and accurate handling and all-around efficiency, improved N.R.A. type walnut stock with steel butt plate and full pistol grip; walnut forearm, solid frame, with a choice of 24” or 20” barrel, except .219 Zipper has 26” only. Two-thirds magazine, holding five cartridges, making - with one in the chamber - a six-shot repeater …weight approximately 7 to 7¼ lbs., according to caliber and barrel length.” It showed that the available chamberings were .219 Zipper, 25-35, .30-30 or .32 Winchester Special. My rifle is chambered for the widely available .30-30, and has the 24” barrel. The catalog also lists a Model 64 “Deer Rifle” which was often called the “deluxe” model. It had special styling, checkering on the stock and forearm, and was equipped with a 1” sling using quick-detachable sling swivels. The pistol grip was finished with a blued steel cap. Double-set triggers could be had on special order. This rifle was offered in .30-30 or .32 Winchester Special calibers only.
Historically, the Model 64 stems from the Model 55, which was first offered around 1924 and finally discontinued in 1935. It had a Model 94 receiver, a 24” barrel, and a half magazine. About 21,000 were manufactured over its production life. In 1933, the Model 64 was introduced, slated to supersede the Model 55. It was configured as related in the 1939 catalog quote above. The 20” barrel option was first offered in 1934. The .219 Zipper “varmint” variation was introduced in 1937. That cartridge was simply the .30-30 with its neck reduced in caliber to .22. Some rare ones in this caliber were made with 20” inch barrels instead of the standard 26”. A few very rare .32-40 and .38-55s were made through 1937 – beware of fakes!
Model 64 receivers were drilled and tapped for receiver peep sights, and the factory could provide these on the guns, usually of Lyman or Redfield make. It’s entirely possible that the Redfield sight on my gun was factory installed. The standard barrel-mounted rear sight had a central sliding elevator and a fine-tune replaceable stamped thin blued-metal notch plate which was available in varying heights. The entire sight could be drifted right or left in its barrel notch for windage adjustment. The front sight was a hooded bead type on a ramp integral with the barrel, not laterally adjustable. The forearm was of the “semi-beavertail” type, not bulbous, but fairly slim, secured by a blued steel cap. It’s been claimed that gun writer and famous shooter Col. Townsend Whelen had a hand in the design.
Winchester ceased production of the Model 64 in 1942, when it began production of military arms for WWII. Production began again in 1948 in .30-30 and .32 Winchester Special only. Some hard rubber buttplates were evidently made as substitutes for the standard steel variety. Production of the post-war rifles was terminated in late 1957. Total production numbers are not easily estimated due to the commonality of Model 94 and Model 64 receiver serial numbers, but probably over 66,000 were made.
Around 1972, perhaps prompted by its manufacture of the NRA commemorative rifle, Winchester attempted a revival of the Model 64, but utilizing the “blackened” post-1964 cast receivers. These rifles were equipped with quick-detachable sling swivels and M1907-style leather slings. All were in .30-30 caliber. These Model 64A’s were not well received, and production was stopped in 1973. In 2015, Winchester offered exactly 250 Model 64 reproductions, made by Miroku in Japan, exclusively for Cabella’s sporting goods stores. These were equipped with tang safeties, were well made, and fairly expensive.
Original Model 64s made in the “quality” pre-war years are exceptionally graceful, easy handling, fast-operating and nearly perfect deer rifles. I would vote them as among the most handsome of all the Winchester lever action rifles. I am glad to have found one in exceptional condition. If you come across one, snap it up before the knowledgeable guy or gal behind you has a chance to see it! These are classic firearms and well worth finding.
(c) 2016 JLM
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