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July 26, 2024
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Any info on a 69a and side mounted peep sight with ser# MX5xxx
April 15, 2005
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Where exactly is the number marked on the rifle? To the best of my knowledge, the Model 69A was not serialized with the exception of a few that were exported to Europe, and those were marked on the left side of the barrel. Can you provide a picture of the number?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
July 26, 2024
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Ser# is on the receiver and the stock is notched out for the sights, will try and get a photo.
July 26, 2024
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Ser# is on the receiver and the stock is notched out for the sights, will try and get a photo.
Have identified rifle as a 69a Target Model. Just don’t know why it has a serial number.?
April 15, 2005
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fdmcmu said
Ser# is on the receiver and the stock is notched out for the sights, will try and get a photo.
Have identified rifle as a 69a Target Model. Just don’t know why it has a serial number.?
Chances are very good that it is not a factory applied number. It was most likely added by a past owner or seller of the rifle.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
April 15, 2005
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Hopefully Jeff (JWA) will see this topic string and provide his expert opinion. If he doesn’t, send him and PM and rattle his cage.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Bert,
I’m in agreement with you on it. Only on the barrel on the left side under the rear sight, have we seen a serial number added for over exportation to Europe as you said. Never on the receiver.
I did notice the stock receiver sight in letting to look a little short to me. I could be wrong, and Jeff can tell us, but in most cases I think the in letting is usually to the middle of the magazine button release.
I’m in agreement with you on Jeff’s opinion.
Tony
July 17, 2012
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Hi fdmcmu,
Your rifle is either a G6901R with the 80A peep sight or the G6940R (Target) with the 80B peep sight. The primary difference is that the true Target version was chambered and marked for .22 Long Rifle only and the standard rifle with the similar peep was chambered for .22 S, L & LR. What does your barrel marking say?
The “MX” prefix serial numbers were not applied by Winchester, they are found not only on Winchester rifles but other models as well. The underlying theme behind them is that most of the rifles found with the MX numbers have been out of the country and reimported. This is the second MX number I have seen on a 69A. It was likely added to comply with some specific regulation or company policy. Abercrombie and Fitch were known to mark their unserialized rifles with a number as well.
Your rifle looks nice, The sight inletting looks normal to me for the 80A sight. The rifle has been completely reblued and the original rear sight elevator has been replaced but they are great shooting rifles.
Let us know if you have any additional questions.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
July 26, 2024
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I read that the Target and Match models did not have the dovetail rear sight. Would that be a true statement?
Thanks for everyone’s input, I appreciate it. Have learned lot already.
Frank
July 17, 2012
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fdmcmu said
I read that the Target and Match models did not have the dovetail rear sight. Would that be a true statement?
Thanks for everyone’s input, I appreciate it. Have learned lot already.
Frank
Not quite true, the G6901R (standard rifle with peep), G6903R (Junior Target Shooter’s Special with the Lyman 57EW), G6940R (Target with the 80B peep) and the G6941R (Match rifle with the Lyman 57E) all did not have a rear sight on the barrel. Side by side, the G6901R and the G6940R Target rifle look almost identical. The difference between the Target and the Standard rifle with peep sight is the true Target was chambered for .22 LR only (post-war) and came with factory sling swivels.
If your barrel is marked .22 Long Rifle (only) and your stock has factory sling swivels then it is a true 69A Target, otherwise it is the standard G6901R rifle with the 80A peep sight.
There is a LOT of mis-information about the 69 Target on the internet because no one bothers to read the book. 😉 Everyone assumes if it has a peep sight it is automatically a “Target” and that is simply not the case.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
July 26, 2024
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One more question, does the reblueing affect the overall value of the rifle?
Again thank you for the information.
Frank
July 17, 2012
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In general, it does a little bit but in reality, the 69A does not bring a large sum anyway ($300-$400) so it affects the long term collectability but at this point (based on a percentage of reduction) it does not amount to much.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
December 9, 2002
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Jeff,
I am glad that you we’re able to educate us on this 69A. Thanks for enlightening me on the sight in letting on the 80A sight. I certainly wasn’t sure. I also noticed that the rifle looked to be re blued with it’s lighter shiny polished and buffed appearance. Hence the reason my thoughts on the sight in letting with the front of the wood, in letting, showing an angle in the picture, and not a 90 degree angle, were so accustomed to see.
Frank,
I notice in the picture, that the rifle still has the store hang tag, with a price tag on it for $579.00. If you didn’t purchase it, and wanted to walk away, some might suggest it, as it’s been re blued. Don’t know if returning it is an option, as the price with whatever tax is on it is over the top of it’s value. Others might find it a neat acquisition, to they’re .22 collection, as we don’t see these a lot with the MX numbers stamped on them. Just some more thoughts.
Tony
July 17, 2012
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Hi Anthony,
Your instincts were correct, for the Lyman 57E and 57EW the front of the inletting is indeed vertical (90 degrees) but the inletting for the 80A and 80B peep sights does have that slight angle to it, probably because the front of those sights are rounded and not square like the Lyman sights and it pivots at the front screw.
You also have sharp eyes! I did not notice the price on the tag and agree, that is well over the current value of that rifle.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
July 26, 2024
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Tony
Had the same thoughts, will pass this by and move on down my list. Thanks for your insight.
Frank
December 9, 2002
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Jeff,
Thanks for you’re kind words, as most of what I’ve been re learning about these are from you’re work in you’re book! You’re research, and style, of putting it in the book is very much appreciated by me.
Frank,
If you don’t have JWA’s book, is well worth it, as both of his book’s, (M-69 and the M-75), are more than worth it, and many of us can’t wait for his next book to come out, with hopefully more after that one! For reference it’s a great book to view while looking for a certain .22 caliber rifle, whether it’s a M-69, or a M-75. Then you can come back and share pictures of what you found while learning more. 
Tony
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