I just finished a rather detailed reply to a question in another thread regarding Winchester 69A rifles. I thought I'd copy it into a thread of its own for those of you who might have one of these fine rifles from yesteryear. Here's as much information as I have:
It was a cold day in January, 1950, and I remember it like it was yesterday. It was my 11th birthday, and my dad and I had picked out a brand new Winchester 69A rifle the week before. We had gone half and half on it, splitting the $24 cost of the rifle. Dad figured that if I really wanted a rifle that much, I’d have to earn at least part of it. The long box with the Winchester logo was in the back seat of his 1947 Studebaker when he came home from work, and I had my very first rifle. Today, those carefully crafted and accurate rifles are in high demand on the used gun market and are genuine classics.
The original Model 69 bolt action rifle was announced Jan. 1, 1935. The rifle was designed at the factory to be an intermediate-cost rifle suitable for sport and target work. It was to be chambered for .22 long rifle, long, and short rimfire cartridges interchangeably. First shipments began on March 15, 1935. It had a cocking knob much like the 1903 Springfield on the rear of the bolt, and cocked on closing. The cocking knob doubled as a safety by pulling it back and twisting it. A rebounding lock was incorporated in August of 1935 to make the rifle suitable for export to Canada in compliance with Canadian regulations. The top rifle illustrated is a Model 69, which I estimate was made in mid-1937. In October of 1937, the takedown screw was made flush with the stock instead of projecting somewhat, and the walnut stock had been modified a bit earlier with a semi-beavertail forearm and a more pronounced pistol grip. All stocks had a composition butt plate with the Winchester logo molded in.
In 1937, as an option, the Model 69s could be ordered with either 2 3/4-power or 5-power scopes. The scope bases were affixed to the gun, but the scope was not mounted from the factory. It came dismounted in the same packing box as the rifle. These scoped Model 69 rifles were discontinued in 1941 as supplies were exhausted.
The rifle was redesigned and then modified around December of 1937 to cock on opening, eliminating the cocking knob. The new bolt gave a very fast lock time, one of the best for rifles of that era, or any era for that matter. A safety lever was added alongside the bolt on the right side. The standard barrel was 25" long, somewhat heavier than that on the original 69. Weight was about 5 pounds. The gun remained essentially unchanged until it was discontinued in 1963. This modified rifle was designated the Model 69A. None were serial numbered throughout production. Total production of 69s and 69As was 355,363.
Several different versions of the Model 69A were offered. The standard grade had a barrel-mounted open rear sight, adjustable with a sliding elevator piece, and a simple dovetailed bead front sight. This was the model that my father and I bought. It was the most economical type. Equipped with the Winchester 80A stamped rear peep sight and hooded front sight utilizing a stamped sheet metal ramp, the cost was a bit higher. The second rifle illustrated is one of these rifles. I estimate it was made in 1957.
The target model was authorized on Dec. 26, 1940, and had the fully adjustable Winchester 80A stamped rear peep sight and a blade front sight. It was equipped with a military-style sling. The match model, introduced at the same time in 1940, was drilled and tapped for, and used, the commercial Lyman 57EW target micrometer rear sight. The front sight was the standard No. 93 blade. There was no provision for an open sight on the barrel (no dovetail cut there). It came equipped with sling swivels and a leather military-style sling. Sling swivels could be special ordered or installed on other models as well. The first sling swivels and slings were one inch in width. This changed in 1947 to 1 ¼” swivels and slings for both the target and match models. Some match models were stamped with a "W" and assembly numbers in the wood on the bottom of the pistol grip. All target and match models were chambered for .22 LR only, and were so marked on the barrel. A six-pointed star stamped on the muzzle crown indicated a six-groove barrel. A very rare model, beginning in the mid-1950s, was the “jr. target shooter’s special.” This was a standard 69A with a blocked open sight dovetail, a commercial rear peep sight, a No. 93 front blade, and a forward sling swivel only. It had the standard (S, L, LR) chambering.
About 1954, the receivers were grooved for tip-off scope mounts. These grooved rifles command a premium price today. About this time, some of the standard guns were drilled and tapped for commercial micrometer sights. There was no cutout in the stock for such sights; the owner would have to modify the stock if they were to be used. This was easy enough to do with a few strokes of a file. About the same time, the bolt handle was swept to the rear and the trigger was grooved. Chromed firing pin spring caps and then chromed bolts were introduced in 1957. Chromed trigger guards and magazine dash plates were used in the early 1960s.
Several different styles of stock were used over the years, differing in the width and length of the fore-end. Some early ones had a very abrupt squared-off fore-end. Somewhat later ones (before approximately 1954) were tapered forward at the nose. These were a bit shorter than the others. Later, some were thin and rounded at the nose, and some were very thick and somewhat squared off, similar to those seen on most target guns. All target and match rifle stocks had a special relief cut on the left side for the specific rear sight used.
An outgrowth of the Model 69A was the Model 75 target rifle and Model 75 sporter. Both had the same action as the Model 69A; the bolts are identical. I have a Model 75 sporter made in 1956 and it's the most accurate .22 I own. The barrel is 23.5", shorter than the 25-inch barrel found on the 69A. Also, the barrel is marked for .22 long rifle cartridges only. This meant that the chambering and rifling were designed for maximum accuracy using the .22 LR round. The non-target/match 69As use compromise chambering and rifling to also accommodate longs and shorts. In spite of this, the accuracy difference is small between these rifles. The Model 75 targets and sporters were discontinued in 1958; all were serial numbered.
There was also a Model 72, which was essentially a Model 69A with an under-barrel tube feed. The bolts on these are a bit different to accommodate the changed feed system. The later Model 72A had some re-designed parts, notably a solid lifter; the previous one was split. These rifles had no pull-weight adjustment screw as is found on the 69As. A single shot version, the Model 47, had no provision for a magazine. On these, the safety lever automatically engaged when the bolt opened and had to be released each time to fire after the bolt was closed.
There were several types of magazines. The standard mag fed five long rifles, longs and shorts interchangeably. There was a five-shot .22 short mag also, which had an internal spacer insert at the front of the magazine. The single shot mag (actually a scooped-out flexible platform at the top of what appeared as a standard mag) was principally used for the Model 52 and Model 75 target rifles, but it would also work in the 69, the 69A and the Model 75 sporter. This was called the "single loading adapter." A 10-shot curved magazine which projected below the stock was also made, and took all lengths of cartridges. Magazines with an underlined "W" on the base are modern non-Winchester reproductions, but probably made on old Winchester equipment. Genuine Winchester mags will have the company stamp on the baseplate.
I have what may be the one and only Model 69A Deluxe. It was specially ordered by an old gentleman who lived near the Winchester factory in New Haven, Connecticut. It has a pistol grip topped by a black plastic cap with the Winchester name on it, and has checkering on the forestock and the pistol grip. The finish on the stock is superb. It has a straight bolt handle, a grooved trigger, and is grooved for scope mounts. It has the standard open sights. There is no serial number except a couple of hash marks stamped on the right receiver opening rail, and one on the receiver itself. I have never heard of another, although some might exist. A collector bought the rifle from the old man's estate. It appears unfired since its estimated date of manufacture in 1954. It's sure not a "gunsmith project" but appears factory made in all respects.
The main aggravation I’ve found with the 69A is the lack of an overtravel adjustment. The letoff is crisp, but there's a lot of overtravel. A trigger shoe with a limiting screw can solve that problem. Weight of pull is adjustable to some degree; there is a screw cap over the trigger spring that can be moved up and down to alter the pull weight. An even nicer pull in the 2-3 lb. range is possible with some careful gunsmithing.
As mentioned, about 1954, the bolt handle was changed from straight to swept back, somewhat like that on the Model 70 rifle. It looked nicer, but as the bolt handle was two-piece, the rotational leverage exerted on the swept bolt knob tended to loosen the joint at the root of the bolt handle with use. This made the bolt handle wobbly. It can be fixed with staking or soldering.
Another small problem is the pin that retains the firing pin spring cap tended to work out to one side, and had to be tapped back in place as one saw it project at the rear of the bolt. Winchester replaced that pin in later production with one which had a reduced-diameter section in the middle. The spring fit into that section and secured the pin from “walking.”
Most used 69As in decent shape today are worth from $250 to $400 depending on condition, originality, and presence or lack of scope grooves. The earlier Model 69s have now become collectible, and price depends mostly on condition, model variation and originality.
These were fine rifles, suitable for adults as well as youngsters. They were very accurate, simple to disassemble and clean, and quite rugged. I've had one for over 60 years and it will still shoot rings around modern rifles of any make. The old-time quality of the 69A has only recently begun to be appreciated, and it has become a very sought-after classic .22 rifle.
Hope you find this information helpful.
John
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