Now some will say that a gun like this never came from the Winchester factory in New Haven. The Winchester Model 69A was always pretty much a plain Jane - no factory options.
I thought so also. But that was before I handled, examined and bought this specimen. I'd date it to 1954 pretty much exactly because it had both the earlier straight bolt handle and it was grooved for scope mounting - a 1954 change.
It has a flawless satin finish, checkering on both the forearm and grip area, and the pistol grip has a black plastic factory grip cap.
Here's an overall picture:
Here's a shot of the grip cap. I at first questioned the use of a Phillips screw, but notice that it's blued. The cap is carefully fitted.
Here's the left side of the gun. Notice the immaculate satin finish and the flawless factory-style checkering.
Here is the right side. Notice the straight bolt handle - and yet the receiver is grooved. The curved handle and the grooving both took place in 1954, but not concurrently. So I believe my educated guess of 1954 manufacture is accurate.
Here is the top of the receiver. It's not marked in any special way, but note that there is one hashmark on the on the top of the breech, and two on the right side of the breech opening. These were applied before bluing. To me this was quite unusual, but perhaps it was the factory way of identifying a special gun.
The factory barrel markings are standard for this gun and this year.
A young man had advertised the gun on the internet. He said that he bought it from the estate of an old gentleman who lived near the Winchester factory in New Haven. The old man's family said he special ordered it from Winchester. Now this is unusual, but in the old days Winchester would bend over backwards to provide any special features the customer specified. Evidently the old man recalled those old ways, and convinced the factory to make those modifications.
The then-current owner did not live too far from Arizona. He drove over so I could personally examine the gun before I made the decision to buy it.
There is no doubt in my mind that this was a factory job. The gun appears unfired in every respect. So do I have the only factory "Deluxe" Model 69A? I don't know, but it's the only one I have ever encountered.
Let me know your thoughts on this. You should be able to click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Best to all,
John
I thought so also. But that was before I handled, examined and bought this specimen. I'd date it to 1954 pretty much exactly because it had both the earlier straight bolt handle and it was grooved for scope mounting - a 1954 change.
It has a flawless satin finish, checkering on both the forearm and grip area, and the pistol grip has a black plastic factory grip cap.
Here's an overall picture:
Here's a shot of the grip cap. I at first questioned the use of a Phillips screw, but notice that it's blued. The cap is carefully fitted.
Here's the left side of the gun. Notice the immaculate satin finish and the flawless factory-style checkering.
Here is the right side. Notice the straight bolt handle - and yet the receiver is grooved. The curved handle and the grooving both took place in 1954, but not concurrently. So I believe my educated guess of 1954 manufacture is accurate.
Here is the top of the receiver. It's not marked in any special way, but note that there is one hashmark on the on the top of the breech, and two on the right side of the breech opening. These were applied before bluing. To me this was quite unusual, but perhaps it was the factory way of identifying a special gun.
The factory barrel markings are standard for this gun and this year.
A young man had advertised the gun on the internet. He said that he bought it from the estate of an old gentleman who lived near the Winchester factory in New Haven. The old man's family said he special ordered it from Winchester. Now this is unusual, but in the old days Winchester would bend over backwards to provide any special features the customer specified. Evidently the old man recalled those old ways, and convinced the factory to make those modifications.
The then-current owner did not live too far from Arizona. He drove over so I could personally examine the gun before I made the decision to buy it.
There is no doubt in my mind that this was a factory job. The gun appears unfired in every respect. So do I have the only factory "Deluxe" Model 69A? I don't know, but it's the only one I have ever encountered.
Let me know your thoughts on this. You should be able to click on any of the pictures for a larger image.
Best to all,
John
Last edited:
