This is a draft of a future article here for review. As usual, comments are welcome!

John

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The Winchester Model 67 Rifle



In the early 1930s, the competition for .22 single-shot youth rifles was quite spirited. Remington, Stevens, Marlin and Winchester were the main competitors. Since 1932, Winchester had an entry single-shot bolt action, the Model 60, developed sequentially from the models 1900, 1902, 1904, 58 and 59. They all stemmed from an initial John Browning design. The engineers and management at Winchester felt that they could develop that basic Model 60A further, offering the public a really nice and up-to-date successor for a still attractive price. The result of their efforts was the Model 67, introduced in May, 1934. It became enormously popular, and its manufacture continued until 1963. Even today, these rifles are sought after, especially as accurate and very safe beginners’ guns.

The Model 67 inherited the same very interesting design features originated by John Browning in the previous single shot bolt-actions. These made it not only quite practical, useful and inexpensive to own, but also easy to manufacture. For example, there is no receiver which usually houses the action parts and the bolt. In conventional manufacture, the receiver is a separate part that accepts the barrel at its front. In the model 67 as in its predecessors, the barrel and receiver are all crafted from the same piece. The rear of the barrel is simply machined out to accommodate the bolt and another interesting part. While a normal bolt will also incorporate an extractor or extractors, the evolved Model 67 bolt does not. Underneath the bolt is a sliding bar that actually combines three functions – extractor, ejector, and sear. This arrangement was exactly as first conceived by Browning and used in the original Model 1900. The bar became a bit larger and had a longer rearward stroke than the one on the preceding Model 60. Instead of the trigger pivoting on a pin in a normal receiver, it is secured in the stock with a pin running sideways through the stock. This is another feature first used in the Model 1900. The ends of this pin can be seen on both sides of the stock just below the rear of the barrel/receiver. The trigger engages a prong at the rear of the combination sliding bar. The bar itself acts as the sear. It’s pushed down by the trigger acting on its prong and releases the spring-loaded firing pin to fire the rifle when the trigger is pulled.

The bolt handle has a much larger knob than the previous Model 60, a welcome improvement. When the bolt is opened and pulled to the rear, it actuates the sliding bar, which engages the rim of the cartridge case with a projection, pulling it out of the chamber. The bar then pops up under spring pressure to eject the case from the rifle. When the bolt is pressed forward to chamber a round, it is not cocked. The rebounding firing pin remains slightly to the rear of the bolt face when the bolt is closed and locked down. In order to fire the rifle, the cocking knob at the rear of the bolt must be pulled to the rear, spring-loading the firing pin and cocking it preparatory to a trigger pull. This feature ensures that the firer knows that the rifle is purposely cocked and ready to fire. Unlike the previous Model 60, there is a rotary tab at the rear of the bolt that serves as a safety lever. When rotated counterclockwise, it projects into the line of sight and locks the bolt, preventing it from firing or opening.

The rifle can be taken down into two major assemblies by unscrewing the takedown screw located just forward of the trigger guard. The trigger guard is identical to that used on the later-introduced and more sophisticated bolt action repeater, the Model 69. The Model 67 stock is larger and more robust than that on the preceding Model 60.

The barrel length on the Model 67 is quite long by conventional standards, measuring 27” from muzzle to bolt face. The high-speed .22 long rifle cartridge usually achieves maximum velocity at around 19 inches of barrel, but an extra-long barrel gives a noticeable quietness advantage when standard or special low velocity rounds are fired. This helps when eliminating garden pests while not disturbing the neighbors!

The Model 67 went through a number of changes over the years. The initial model had finger grooves in the stock, which were authorized to be dispensed with in late 1935. However, the grooves continued through 1937. An optional chambering in .22 Winchester Rim Fire (now obsolete) was made available in September, 1936. Prior to 1937, the bolt had one flat on its underside. Subsequently there were two, coincidental with a slightly different shape to the extractor projection. A bolt retaining spring was removed in August, 1937. In October, 1937, the stock was enlarged and re-shaped so that the takedown screw would be flush, rather than projecting. In January, 1938, a manufacturing change order was drafted. Changes to the rifle under that order were not actually implemented until 1949, when the designation was changed to “Model 67A.” The main differences were in the extractor/ejector bar spring and the stock stud on the barrel. These alterations resulted in a more forceful ejection of the spent case. Around 1947, the caliber markings on the barrel were abbreviated (22 S.L.OR L.R.) instead of being spelled out. The firing pin configuration was altered a number of times over the rifle’s years of manufacture.

A smoothbore version of the Model 67 came about in September, 1936. A later version had a 24” barrel and a bead sight like that used on the Model 12 shotgun, and was introduced in April. 1940. Both of these were designed to use special .22 LR shot cartridges.

A Model 68 was introduced concurrently with the Model 67 in 1934. It was nothing more than the Model 67 with an aperture rear sight and a hooded front sight. It was discontinued in 1944 when the same sights became optional on the Model 67. Deliveries of the Model 68 were still being made in 1945. The Models 67 and 67A with target sights continued to be cataloged into the 1950s.

In January, 1937, the Model 677 was offered. This was equipped with Winchester scopes of either 2¾ or 5-power and crosshair reticles. A vertical post reticle scope of 2¾ power was an option beginning that November. The barrel had no iron sights, but had scope mounting blocks. The scopes came in separate boxes from those used with the rifles. The Model 677 was not popular and was dropped from the Winchester lineup in 1938. Only 1,400 were produced.

In August, 1937 a “Junior Rifle” was introduced at the prodding of Ad Topperwein, a famous exhibition shooter of that era. The barrel was a shorter 20”, the length of pull was shortened by a little more than one inch, and its weight was 4.5 pounds, a half-pound lighter than the full-size model. This was commonly also called the “Boy’s Rifle.” The post reticle scope could be mounted on some Junior Rifles that were provided with scope blocks. The open sights were retained on this variation, which had see-through tunnels in the scope blocks. These were rarely if ever actually produced.

Production of the Model 67 was halted during most of WWII, beginning again in the closing years of the war. Instead of the earlier chrome plating, the bolt was blued beginning in October, 1944. Chrome plating was reinstituted in 1946 when chromium was no longer rationed for the war effort. The stock shape was changed slightly in 1951. A minor change to the stock stud was made in 1954.

Production number estimates vary depending on the source to as high as over 652,000 for the Model 67. None were ever serial numbered during its span of manufacture and relevant company records are now pretty much nonexistent. Some did have factory serial numbers applied when they were intended for certain foreign purchases. The number of these is not known.

The Model 67 was a very popular first rifle, and used specimens can often be found relatively inexpensively at gun shows and gun shops, and on internet auctions. If a gun is in exceptional condition, the value will be higher, and of some collector interest. Unfired and in its original box, the value would be still higher. To a collector, the Junior Rifle is a bit more desirable. The .22 WRF versions and the smoothbores can draw a doubling of the usual going price. The Model 677 complete with scope is rare and can easily top ten times the standard price range.

Model 67s are considered classic rifles today, with an extensive history dating back to 1900. All of the variations listed here are now gone but fondly remembered by a lot of folks as their first firearm.



(c) 2016 JLM

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Very well written and informative thread Paladin. Always a pleasure to see a quality wood stocked firearm today. My next purchase when I visit a Gun Show will be a model like this or a vintage Remington 541. Some real quality guns made back then.

i enjoyed your article and it is very well written. the first rifle i ever had was the full rifle 67, and i still have it, also i found a junior model for my son when he first began shooting. i still shoot mine and my grandson shoots the junior model. you can enjoy yourself and only shoot up one or two boxes of ammo. also i guess i fit the name of an old timer.

My dad's 67 was the first firearm I ever shot. I think he told me he bought it for $6 in 1936. It sits in the back of my gunsafe as I type this. I usually get it out at Thanksgiving time to blow the dust off and put a few more 22s down the barrel. It is certainly not in collectable shape, but it still is a very accurate 22.

This is a very well researched article on the 67 variants. Winchester .22s are my passion and good informative articles are few and far between. Thanks PALADIN, I appreciate all your threads on these classic rifles.

As of this fall I have acquired at least one example of every single shot .22 Winchester produced, but if you were to get every variation of the different models it would be herculean task.

My dad kept one leaning in the corner of his reloading shop. With his blessing, I gave it to a kid who use to go to the range with me.

I had heard that the .22lr reaches it's maximum velocity at 16" and velocity decreases afterwards. Not being a knowledgeable ballistics person I only know what I read.
A google search turns up sources from other forums that say 16" also.
barrel length for maximum velocity of .22 lr - Google Search
Be interesting to hear from others about this!
Enjoyed my 67, until I gave it to my FIL for control of pests around place. When he passed away it disappeared?
Thanks for the information about the 67 design and pictures, very informative!

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Wherever my mind isn't
Jim

Thanks for such a fine article.

My Dad gave his Model 67 directly to my daughter, bypassing me entirely! She loves that gun, and calls it her "Winny" - a name she came up with in her little 8 year old brain (with no knowledge of the current use of that name by gun forum guys everywhere). It still shoots great after 80 years.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

Thanks for posting,interesting post as usual.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

The article you reference measures standard .22 LR ammo. I'm pretty sure that the hi-velocity stuff has enough poop that it can utilize some extra inches of barrel. I read that when the Remington Model 66 was designed, they settled on 19.5" as optimum for the high-speed ammo they used and recommended. At that time (1958), the hyper-velocity stuff had not yet been developed, which might have justifiably utilized an even longer length. I'll revise the text to reflect the 19.5" number. Thanks for the heads up on that.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I had one of those!

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A Snider squibbed n the Jungle

John, I picked up a 67A last Friday. it needs a lot of TLC. lee

My first rifle was a model 67 that had been my Dad's. I still have it and it still is effective on squirrels. As a teen I put a surplus store sling on it and many years later discovered it was from a Thompson.

Very good article. Those rifles will outshoot 90% of the junk on
the market today.

I had a very disappointing Christmas morning when I was 11. All I wanted was a .22 rifle and there clearly wasn't one under the tree. After all the presents were opened my dad asked what that package leaning up against the tv was. It was a model 67A boy's rifle and my disappointment turned to joy. My son inherited it when he was 11 and I've since acquired several model 67 and 68 rifles. I was the envy of all my friends and it wasn't long before their fathers succumbed to the pressure and bought them rifles. I thoroughly enjoyed your article and the memories it brought.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Never had one - but my Brother did.
Have shot that one quite a lot.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I learned how to shoot with one . Each of my brothers had one that my mom said she purchased with S&H Green Stamps, I purchased one in very good condition about 8 years ago for $150.00.

Mine was a Christmas present in 1961 . I still have it and yes it shoots very accurately .

The smoothbore that I have has rifle sights. Good for sparrows at 15 or 20 ft.

Great article. My dad's first rifle was a Winchester 67. He bought it new in August of 1938 for his 13th birthday. He paid $5.65 for it at the local hardware. He could have saved 50 cents by ordering it from Sears Roebuck but he didn't want to wait the 2 days it would have taken to get there by mail.

Stumbled into this thread during an internet search on the Winchester Model 60 and enjoyed the article all over again John.

The .22 Long Rifle's Optimum Barrel Length For Maximum Velocity

For entertainment and education I once conducted extensive chronograph tests of a number of brands and styles of .22 rim fire cartridges. I satisfied myself that the 27-inch barrel of a Remington Model 513T dependably returned significantly higher velocities than a 22-inch barrel of a Winchester Model 57. Both standard velocity and high velocity .22 Long Rifle ammunition of various kinds were tested as were Longs and Shorts. Only certain standard velocity Shorts yielded higher velocities from the 22-inch barrel, "coasting" to lower muzzle velocities from the 27-inch barrel. I had to resort to trying CB caps in order to get a bullet stuck in the long-barreled Remington and most of these exited.

Several 25 to 27 inch .22 rifles are on hand and they are quieter and more pleasant to shoot as is pointed out above, especially with standard velocity ammunition.

Glad I saw this- thanks for resurrecting bmc. For my 6th bday (in 1987), my dad gave me a Model 67A Youth...my grandfather had gotten it for him when he was a kid. After a zillion rounds, it still looks pretty good though it doesn’t see as much action as it once did. My uncle actually has one with no sights and a factory scope, a rare bird. I enjoyed the read Paladin.

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Some Might Say.

Another thanks for resurrecting this thread, I hadn't seen it.

I picked up a 67 several years ago at an estate auction. It's an amalgamated version - it has the early finger-groove stock, but has a 67A bolt. Also, no serial number.

After running a patch or 20 down down the bore, I cleaned the stock (which was incredibly filthy) with 4-0 steel wool and Mineral Spirits, very lightly rubbing it down.

It looks good now, and shoots very accurately - better than my eyes can see.

Eventually, having no children of my own, I hope to hand it down to a great-nephew (or niece).

Thanks for a good article.
Like many, the M67 was my first rifle.
My Mom and I were friends with an old man that attended auctions and such. Mom liked some antique pieces he'd pick up and refinish sometimes and would buy them.
Occasionally he'd pick up a 'farm gun' from somewhere. That's where my M67 came from. I was 13, and had saved up for a hopeful purchase of a .22 of some description. The M67 was sold to me for $15 and I was so excited I could barely sleep after getting it. At the time, .22 shorts were cheaper than LR's, so it saw alot of them.

That rifle was carried for many miles of in-the-field enjoyment. Very accurate and simple as a brick.
A friend tastefully refinished the stock some years back and I still have it.
Hasn't been fired in 20-some years, but probably will not part with it.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

I have and treasure the 67A I received as a Christmas present in 1952. Uncounted thousands of rounds over the years and half a dozen new shooters taught with this rifle. The rifle is in excellent condition with some wear showing at the balance point.

Stories like the two above are the reason I love this hobby.

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Some Might Say.

I hadn’t seen this article either. Thanks for the revival. My 67A is a great little rifle. It’s missing the buttplate but has served as a snake charmer for several decades. Neat little guns.

I have had close to 10 of these fine little rifles and still have a few. One was a gift from a friends Dad. Another one I believe is unfired from the Savage reference library. I had 2 "boys" rifles and gave one to a friend so his daughter can shoot with him. I have a lot of Winchester .22 also but not everyone!

The 68's you don't see many around.
Made for a short time period part of which was war time.
Here is one with the finger grooves sandwiched
Between a Winchester 75 target and a Remington 34 also with finger grooves an attribute I like.

Attached Images

20190714_115827.jpg (86.3 KB, 34 views)

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Coming from a small town in Ohio almost every boy had a single shot 22 and 410. My town was the same as thousands of others. This leads me to the question, were are all those single shot 22s? There had to be hundreds of thousands of them. You don't see a lot of them at shows proportional to the numbers that existed. Same with 410s. Very few of the guys I grew up with still have theirs and can't tell you what happened to them. I'm inclined to believe a sizable portion of them were thrown into the trash just like a lot of BB guns.

What an interesting article. I appreciate the research you put into all of your articles.
I have a question about the smooth bore versions of this rifle, and any other smooth bore. Why are they made? I would think that the invention of rifling would eliminate the smooth bore{ except shotguns}. Are they made for bird shot?

I learned to shoot with my brothers. My mom bought each brother one with S&H green stamps. I bought one for myself about 5 years ago for 125.00, great shooter

.22 bird shot cartridges have been around for a long time. They can be shot in rifled bores, but many smooth bore guns have been made for them. The patterns are much tighter than when shot through rifling. Here are some photos, including one of a Remington Nylon 10 smooth bore single shot that I own. They are great for garden pests where a normal shotgun would be overkill.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Nice article on a great rifle a lot of us got a start with.


"...A bolt retaining spring was removed in August, 1937...."

That simple bolt retaining spring was removed from the rifle rather quickly after initial production began. The thin, deep mill slice cut required into the rear of the recv'r portion of the assembly weakened that area to the point that it developed a crack that then ran forward even farther on the 'recv'r'.

The spring itself is only about a 1/32" square and maybe 1.5" long with a slight bend to it. It is staked into that sliced cut at about the 7 oclock position looking at the recv'r from the rear.
The idea was that the spring would bear slightly on the bolt body and then jump into a flat on the body when the bolt was in the closed position. The light spring tension on that flat would help hold the bolt closed.,,which it did.
But upon opening the bolt with a bit of gusto as some kids may do I imagine, the bolt handle root slams against the left wall of the recv'r.
Right below it (under the wood line) is that deep thin cut out in the recv'r for the spring,,and I think that helped to bring on the crack and extend it with use. Maybe just poor engineering.

After a couple years,,gone was the milled cut in the recv'r and that simple spring and the recv'r was stronger.

One thing to look for in the very early Mod 67 rifles is that recv'r crack. Just unscrew the TD assembly and lift the bbl'd action out of the wood. Look for the spring itself and follow the channel it sits it forward.
The crack is either there ,or it's not. Sometimes the springs are missing in these but that doesn't mean the channel can't have that crack.
Any M67 with the finger groove forend will have bolt retaining spring and a few early production rifles after that.

Nobody likes to buy a rifle with a cracked recv'r,,even a 22.

OOOooo...

By the time the Nylon 10 was introduced I'll bet those smooth bore variants were made in minuscule numbers.

I've had a couple. They were great rifles, and accurate if you could overcome the trigger. I wanted one when I was a kid, wanted more a Remington single which cocked on opening. Good article.

2,064 to be exact, making it one of the rarest of the Nylon breed, and now very expensive when it's occasionally found.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thank you for the info on the smooth bores.

I have the one my father bought new in 1935. He gave it to me when I was 9. Dad has been gone since 1982. I still have the little rifle & it shoots as good as ever. Me, not so much.

-don

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SWCA LM#2190 SWHF#414

Since we're on the barrel length issue, let me suggest some refinement in language.

"Optimum" barrel length in no way implies "maximum" velocity.

Eugene Stoner for example Identified 18" as the optimum length for the .223 Remington round in his fully automatic AR-18 and semi-automatic AR-180. But that was a balance of length and handling versus velocity. In the earlier AR-15 the length used was 20", again seeking a balance between length and ballistic performance (with a 500 yard 10 ga steel plate penetration requirement in the mix).

However anyone who's ever had a 20" .223 and a 24" .223 understands pretty well that the velocity in the 24" barrel is greater. I have 11.5", 16", 18" 20", 21" and 24" .223s and base don my chronograph data it's clear that above 18" the gains in velocity get lower in terms of feet per second per each additional inch of barrel - but the increase is still there. One inch differences in length can be problematic at the longer end of the spectrum as the increase per inch can be lost in the statistical noise of small sample sizes as well as in specific chamber, throat and bore dimensions that produces differences that exceed the differences per single inch of barrel. Below 18" the velocity loss per each inch of barrel accelerates as the barrel gets shorter, at least at normal carbine and SBR lengths.

Most shooters understand that with the .223, but then claim there isn't enough powder in the .22LR to continue accelerating past 16", 19", etc. (pick your favorite number). The theory is that the combined air pressure in front of the bullet and drag of the bullet in the bore is greater than the gas pressure behind the bullet.

That theory then gets "supported" by faulty data (like the BBTI data) where high standard deviations and extremely small sample sizes create differences between adjacent barrel lengths that are less than the standard deviation in velocity at each barrel length. Inevitably that leads to an "average" velocity for a barrel length that is lower than the 1" shorter barrel. That's far more likely to happen at longer barrel lengths over 18"-19" where the increase in velocity per inch is less.

That theory is also supported (and actually has some truth) in .22 BB and .22 CB caps, where the bullet is powered only by the primer compound. In some long barrel, snug bored rifles the primer can potentially be insufficient to cause the bullet to exit the bore.

Again however, looking at my own chronograph data over the years even standard velocity .22 LR increases in velocity in barrel lengths, at least out to the 26" length of my match rifles. It's not great and may be less than 10 fps per inch, but it's still increasing. You do often high quality ammo, and a sufficient sample size to get a low enough SD to see the difference in 1" of barrel, but it's there.

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Consequently, I suggest that you not read more into "optimum barrel length than is really there and just leave it at "optimum" and not repeat an internet and gun rag fallacy that "maximum" velocity is achieved at "x" inches of barrel, unless you are stating that about a barrel length that is greater than at least a yard.

Great article as usual. The 67 I have has the finger groove stock and I'll take it down later to check for the receiver crack, out of curiosity. The rifle was bought new by my great grandfather as pest control around the farm. It was given to my dad sometime in the late 50's shortly before g-granddad died. Dad never liked the rifle as he felt it was inaccurate. I think it was more that the rifle didn't fit dads 6'2" frame and the rifle was given to me on my 12th birthday. I got along fine with the rifle and both my kids learned to shoot rifles with the 67, which now belongs to my daughter. So at this point 5 generations of my family have owned and used this rifle. While after 80 years of occasional use the exterior would no longer be considered "collectible" condition it still shoots fine. I see no reason to believe this rifle will not see 100 years of use by my family serving as pest control and teaching youngsters to shoot.