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.
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.
