I picked this up a week or so ago in a local gun shop. It’s a Winchester Model 1906 with a 7912xx range serial number. Winchester went to 2 digit model numbers in March 1919 (and they used 2 digit model numbers in their 1918 catalog), so it’s marked “Model 06”.

The serial number makes it one of the Model 06s produced after production officially ceased in 1935. However Winchester had ample left over parts and made them sporadically in small runs and by special order until at least 1937, and most likely until 1942 when they converted to war production and cleaned out the left over parts. I’ve heard reports of some post war Model 06s but I have never seen any official documentation of that.

The finish is probably in the 80% range with freckling on the receiver, although it’s a nice shiny patina rather than active rust, and the bluing on the barrel has aged to a purple-brown color.





It fills a hole in the collection between my Model 1890 and my Model 62A.




I like the balance and feel of the longer barrel Model 1890 and Model 62A, but the Model 1906 is very light and handy.

That is a very nice looking 06. Finding a 1906/06 in good shape is very difficult. Being the economy model pump .22 they were used hard and not cared for as well as their more expensive models the 1890s and 62s.

I have a few including two in .22 short only. The first two years production were only made in .22 short. After 1908 all would be chambered for short, long and long rifle. They did make a little fancier rifle, the 1906 Expert. The only difference is a pistol grip butt stock and a different slide handle.

My best boyhood friend had an 06. No finish left on it, wood or metal. But it still worked like a new one.

I acquired mine about a year and a half ago. It came from a friends estate. His grandfather was a shop owner in NJ in the '30s and it had always been in his family. Mine is a high number too, starts with 785XXX

Attached Images

Winchester 06.jpg (177.5 KB, 17 views)

I have had a Model 1890, a Model 1906, and a Model 06. I like the way the 1890 balanced better. Unfortunately, few 1890s were made it 22 Long Rifle. I have none of them left.

Kevin

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Many of the 90s I have seen were in .22 WRF, but some were in .22 LR. I once modified a 90 in .22 LR to function with .22 Short by putting a plug in the cartridge carrier. Not a permanent modification.

My 1890 is one of the less common rifles in .22 LR and dates to 1926. Winchester didn’t start offering the 1890 in .22 LR until 1919, and the 1890 went out of production in 1932 when Olin acquired Winchester.

Much of the delay in Winchester accepting the .22 LR was based on the superior performance of the .22 WRF. The .22 LR was introduced in 1887 with a 40 gr bullet at about 1085 fps. In comparison the .22 WRF was introduced in the 1890 and launched a 45 gr bullet at 1300 fps. It was arguably a superior cartridge in all respects except accuracy. However, while the .22 WRF was better in most respects, the .22 LR was both “good enough” and less expensive.

None the less, Winchester stayed out of the .22 LR business until 1908 with the use of .22 S, L and LR in its economy Model 1906. Winchester for the most part stayed with the .22 WRF and .22 Short in the 1890 until the introduction of High Velocity .22 LR by Remington in 1930. With a 40 gr bullet at 1250 fps, the new and improved high velocity .22 LR left the .22 WRF with very little performance gain over the HV .22 LR.

That’s really what killed the .22 WRF and eventually led to the introduction of the .22 WMR (aka .22 WMRF, and .22 Magnum) in 1959 with a 40 gr bullet at about 1850 fps.