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I opened a gunsleeve and found a treasured model 63 of my dad’s. It appears unfired but I have not taken it down for further inspection yet. It appears to be a first early year 1933 production, SN 1665. I am curious to the engraving and rear tang peep sight. How rare is this particular rifle?
Is this in anyone’s survey yet?
Scott
Scott,
This is merely my opinion… I do not believe that the engraving is factory work. If it were factory original, I would expect to see much better (fancy checkered) wood (stocks), and a capped pistol grip. The pre-WW II production rifles were drilled & tapped for the tang sight, so there is no way to confirm if it was factory installed or added after the fact. It really does not makes much (if any) difference either way, as the Lyman tang sight is a desirable addition.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Beautiful engraving, IMHO.
Mike
While I agree with Bert that it would have been likely to have had fancier wood and a pistol grip it might still be worth contacting Pauline Muerrle for verification. https://paulinemuerrle.com/factory-engraving-records/
I do like that classic .22 pattern.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Don’t know much about the Model 63, however, unless I’m mistaken the muzzle face should be in the white in 1933. Beautiful rifle, pdog!
James
I wondered about the engraving without checkered or fancy stock but I also have an 1866 44 rimfire manufactured in 1880, engraved with plain straight stock.
Thanks for the link to Pauline, retired Winchester engraver. I will be contacting her on both of these rifles.
Scott
Bert H. said
Scott,I do not believe that the engraving is factory work.
Neither do I–it’s “nice,” but not better than journeyman work. The rabbit & squirrel are mere sketches, without modeling or detail. (But at least the subjects are appropriate, not the big game species that all too often show up on small-game rifles.)
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