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Hello,
I can’t find an accurate definition. I see many Model 61’s referred to as gallery guns, and that points to the term “gallery gun” being used as slang for an old 22 rifle. My understanding is they were all 22 short only, but may have had other features, like the sights, length of pull(maybe), barrel length. Not too much is said about them, and I hope the experts here know the answers. Thanks
The specific Model 62 “gallery” guns were .22 short only but the most defining characteristic is the magazine tube loading port, it is cartridge shaped on standard .22 short rifles and triangular shaped on the gallery model to allow the use of speed loading tubes.
That is not the case for the 1890 where there was no “gallery” version although they are commonly called gallery guns.
I am nowhere near my rifles but hopefully someone here will post a picture showing the difference in the loading ports.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
I’ve heard of the Model 62 Gallery rifles and believe they were more common than the Model 61 Gallery rifles. Were there other defining features on the Model 61 to make it a Gallery rifle? I saw where there were some short only Model 61’s made in the late 40’s. Were these with the round barrels considered Gallery rifles if they had the speed loading port? or were the early 30’s short only 61’s the only Gallery rifles? Thanks
Online
Heres a couple to compare, both guns letter
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Henry Mero said
Heres a couple to compare, both guns letter
Hi Henry,
Does the 1890 letter as a “gallery” rifle? I don’t recall ever seeing that on an 1890 letter.
Thanks!
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
No it doesn’t, it does letter full nickel.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Thanks for those pictures. So besides saying 22 Short on the barrel, and the different loading port, that was all that made a Model 61 Gallery gun? I thought maybe the stock would have been possibly shorter, or the sights different. I just don’t see much info about the Mod 61 Short’s except they can be faked. I did see where it was mentioned that Winchester sold the Model 62a very cheaply to the gallery businesses, so there were not many 61’s Galleries made. I wasn’t certain if they were called an actual Gallery rifle, but with the special speed loading port, they must have been. Thanks again
Greg Mansholt said
Thanks for those pictures. So besides saying 22 Short on the barrel, and the different loading port, that was all that made a Model 61 Gallery gun? I thought maybe the stock would have been possibly shorter, or the sights different. I just don’t see much info about the Mod 61 Short’s except they can be faked. I did see where it was mentioned that Winchester sold the Model 62a very cheaply to the gallery businesses, so there were not many 61’s Galleries made. I wasn’t certain if they were called an actual Gallery rifle, but with the special speed loading port, they must have been. Thanks again
Hi Greg,
I gave you the 62 info as an example but as far as I know there was not a Winchester catalog number for a Model 61 “gallery” version. Here are the Model 61 catalog numbers and, while there are .22 short variants listed, none are specifically called a “gallery” model.
| G6101R | Model 61 | Sliding Forearm Hammerless Repeating Rifle, .22 S, L, LR, 24″ Barrel, 75C Front Sight, 32B Rear sight | |
| G6102R | Model 61 | Slide Action Repeating Rifle, .22 Short Only, 24″ Octagon Barrel, 75C Front Sight, 32B Rear sight | |
| G6104R | Model 61 | Sliding Forearm Hammerless Repeating Rifle, .22 Long Rifle, 24″ Octagon Barrel, 75C Front Sight, 32B Rear sight | |
| G6105R | Model 61 | Sliding Forearm Hammerless Repeating Rifle, .22 WRF, 24″ Octagon Barrel, 75C Front Sight, 32B Rear sight | |
| G6109R | Model 61 | Sliding Forearm Hammerless Repeating Rifle, .22 WRF only, 24″ Barrel, 75C Front Sight, 32B Rear sight | |
| G6116R | Model 61 | Sliding Forearm Hammerless Repeating Rifle, .22 LR Shot (Smoothbore), 24″ Barrel, Bead Front Sight, No Rear sight |
The term “Gallery Gun” is one of the most mis-used terms for describing a .22 rifle as ANY .22 rifle could be used in a commercial shooting gallery and many different types of guns were, whether actually called a “gallery” model by the manufacturer or not.
Here is the breakdown from a collector standpoint;
- Guns that are an actual manufactured gallery model (such as the Models 62, 72, 74, etc.) and show evidence of being used in a shooting gallery – The most desirable category.
- Guns that are actual gallery models that were sold to the general public but were not used commercially, usually pristine or 95%+ guns with no commercial evidence of use
- Standard catalogued guns that were chambered in .22 short that show evidence of being used in a shooting gallery (modified loading port, counter tie-down, mis-matched half numbers, etc.)
The rest, even though called a “gallery rifle” because of the looks or style, are NOT gallery rifles.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Greg,
Per Jeff’s (JWA) definition above, this is what a Model 62A Gallery should have and what it looks like.
Below is a Model 62A Gallery gun I used to own that is marked “WINCHESTER” on the left side of the receiver, marked for .22 SHORT and has the triangular shaped loading port to accommodate the preloaded .22 Short loading tubes. Also shown is the gallery hold down feature that wraps around the barrel and magazine tube and chained to the counter. Note the blue wear from the hold down clamp. I can’t help with a Model 61 Gallery gun.
The last picture is of me using live ammo at the shooting gallery on Coney Island taken in May or June of 1956 (about 69 years ago). If you hit the bullseye, it took your picture. That alert person standing next to me is my shipmate, Mike Pore from Kalamazoo Michigan. I have no idea what rifle I was using but I’m sure it wasn’t a M62A.
That is great information. I feel I now have a good understanding of what a gallery gun really is. I knew the term “gallery gun” was loosely used, but until now didn’t have a good definition. Gallery shooting probably went away before my time but I do remember when shorts were much cheaper than LR, and longs were still on the market. The reason I asked about gallery guns, and specifically the Model 61, is I possibly saw one sell at a local farm auction. It was mismatched, but the numbers were very close(4 digit). The stock had a large chunk missing on the tang. It was short only, and had a triangle like loading port like pictured above. My son said the bore was good, but with those detractions I watched it sell for around half what a Model 61 normally goes for in nice condition. I didn’t think to look for a attachment point, but my son said there was some odd wear in front of the trigger. I wasn’t thinking gallery gun at the time. I wish I knew then what I know now, but still don’t know the market value as these don’t show up for sale as far as I know. I thought it could be rare, but that doesn’t always mean a premium if the demand isn’t there. I had some regrets when the auction was over, and thought I’d try to find out if they were valid and be better prepared next time if there is one. Many Thanks!
Jolly Bill, that is a great picture of you shooting! As I remember the markings on the barrel were similar with the 61. Thanks
Hi Greg,
With your more detailed description of the 61 it does sound like it falls into the 3rd category of a non-gallery .22 model that was used in a shooting gallery. Many of the loading ports were modified by the operators with a file to easily create the triangular shaped loading port, and the real give-away is the mis-matched (but close) serial numbers.
The rifles were disassembled at the end of each day for cleaning and a former gallery operator I interviewed years ago stated most gallery operators just separated the 2-halves and brushed and rinsed them with kerosene in a bucket and then reassembled them with no attention made to matching up the numbers. He also stated that was one of the reasons the galleries liked the Winchester pump rifles because they were quicker to disassemble/separate and clean at the end of the day. A few extra minutes saved in cleaning x 12 rifles x 365 days adds up quick.
For value, each rifle with evidence of gallery usage has to be evaluated on it’s own merit. I have a soft spot for gallery rifles, partly because I owned several shooting galleries, co-wrote a book on shooting galleries and currently gathering information for another future book on them so I tend to over-pay a bit for the ones I want. For the 61 you described, I probably would have bid the rifle up to $1000 if it was in reasonable condition and the gallery provenance or physical evidence was clear. That doesn’t necessarily mean that is the value of that particular rifle, it is just what I would have paid if I was there. You have to be a gallery fan (or an idiot) to otherwise pay that much for a worn-out, mis-matched 61, and I am both. 😉
Hope that helps,
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks JWA, you certainly are a big help! This farm auction was a retirement auction so the old guy owner was there and the auctioneer let him say a few words about each gun. I remember him saying he had it as one of the 1st guns he ever owned, but he bought it used, as it was older than he was. He did say it shot real nice, and a hundred rounds or so went with it. The loading port probably was carved out, but was a good job or I would have noticed if it wasn’t. I appreciate guns with history. Thanks again.
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