Winchester Model 65 .218 Bee 24″ Lever Action Rifle 1935 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,025.00
LSB#: LSB260602CL002
Make: Winchester
Model: 65
Serial Number: 1002922
Year of Manufacture: 1935
Caliber: .218 Bee
Action Type: Lever action, centerfire rifle, fed from tubular magazine.
Barrel Length: 24″, barrel is dated “37”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a hooded ramp integral to the barrel. The rear sight has been removed and the dovetail plugged. There is a Winchester 98A bolt mounted peep sight in this rifle. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two piece smooth walnut, capped forend, semi pistol grip, straight comb, and checkered steel buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from trigger to buttplate. The stock has been refinished. There are some light scratches and compression dents throughout. There are no chips or cracks. Overall this stock is in Very Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp. There is no erosion. There is light fouling. In this writer’s opinion this bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its blued finish. There are scratches and light corrosion freckles throughout. Some of the markings have been softened. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are legible. Overall this rifle is in Very Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 65 is a refined sporting development of the Model 1892 action, combining its compact lever mechanism with a 24″ barrel, pistol-grip stock, and partial-length tubular magazine. This rifle is chambered in the desirable .218 Bee and is fitted with a Winchester 98A bolt-mounted peep sight in place of the conventional barrel rear sight. Of particular interest, the receiver dates to 1935 while the barrel is dated 1937, and both the barrel and receiver bear Winchester proof marks, strongly suggesting that the rifle received a later factory-installed barrel.
The Model 65 was introduced during the 1930s as a streamlined sporting rifle derived from Winchester’s Model 53 and ultimately John M. Browning’s Model 1892 action. The .218 Bee was introduced a few years later as a high-velocity small-game and varmint cartridge based on the .32-20 case. The 1937 barrel date on this rifle is consistent with the period when Winchester began offering the .218 Bee, while the earlier receiver date indicates that this rifle likely began life in another chambering before being returned to Winchester for rebarreling. The matching factory proofing on both components lends considerable credibility to that interpretation.
This rifle retains about 95% of its current refinished blue finish, with scattered scratches, light corrosion freckling, and some softened but legible markings. The refinished walnut stocks remain in Very Good condition with only light scratches and compression dents and no chips or cracks. The bright bore has sharp rifling and rates 9.5/10 with only light fouling, while the action functions correctly. Overall, this is a Very Good refinished Model 65 with an excellent bore, desirable .218 Bee chambering, Winchester 98A aperture sight, and an interesting likely factory-rebarreled configuration. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! MF