Hello all,
This rifle was previously listed by Mike Bishop as a .22 LR only BUT NOT “Shot Only”. I have added it to the list of fakes. https://www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Firearms/Winchester-61/lotInformation/43311503
Beware!!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
cwachter said
Actually you have it backwards. Think about how many people have been taken advantage of since it came along.
It works both ways… the internet has definitely allowed the criminals to find new ways to scam people, but it has also allowed a lot of people to learn and see many new things as well.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015

Seems there are a lot of faked 61’s being offered these days, any idea why? My best theory is that someone has a stash of NOS “SHOT ONLY” barrels or has found a way to manufacture a very good copy. Scary part is that these counterfeits seem to be quite good.
My concern is at least partially selfish; I have two very high condition 61’s (NOT smoothbores!) and would like to add a shooter to my stable someday. I think these counterfeits will soften the market a bit for the genuine examples and at the same time drive up expectations for sellers of “shooter” specimens. My other concern is that a novice collector will buy one of these fakes and get an expensive lesson about collectable Winchesters and a bad first impression about Winchester collectors. As collectors we need to encourage new blood as they are the future of our hobby. As a group we aren’t getting any younger, many of my recent acquisitions are from estates (indirectly) and I suspect that is true for many of us.
I don’t think we can get away with putting a bounty on these varmints but I feel strongly that several people know where these barrels are coming from and who is doing the restoration work.
Mike
Bert H. said
It works both ways… the internet has definitely allowed the criminals to find new ways to scam people, but it has also allowed a lot of people to learn and see many new things as well.
Bert
Bert you are right, I use it all the time. There are too many collectors that get burned when buying on the internet. I use it but I don’t buy guns that I haven’t picked up. Go ahead and when you take a couple thousand dollar hit you might change your mind.
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