Winchester 1910 Self Loading SL .401 W.S.L. Semi-Automatic Rifle, 1936 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1150

LSB#: 210714SH05

Make: Winchester

Model: 1910

Serial Number: 20258

Year of Manufacture: 1936

Caliber: .401 Winchester Self Loading (.401 W.S.L.)

Action Type: Blowback Operated Semi-Automatic with 4-Round Removable Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. SELF LOADING MODEL   10. PAT. AUG. 27. / DEC. 10. 1901. FEB. 25. 1902. FEB. 17. 1903. AUG. 21. OCT. 30. 1906. JULY 5. 1910.”, “-.401 CAL.” and “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver at the front are each marked with an ovalled “WP” proof mark. The left receiver flat is marked “20258” at the bottom-rear, the bottom-left shoulder of the trigger portion of the receiver is marked “20258” above the trigger. The top tang is marked “WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. / MOD. 1910 S.L.”.

Barrel Length: 20”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetail set to a base on the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U” notched elevator sight dovetailed into the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with flat-bottom half-pistol grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The stocks have some scattered nicks, scrapes and scratches. There is a more notable ding in the left of the forend around the middle. There is thinning finish at the toe. There is a thin crack in the bottom-rear of the forend at a line of darker colored wood. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear in otherwise sharp checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the balance is in scattered minor surface oxidation. There are some spots of light erosion, most notable on the right receiver flat where there are bright spots from erosion being scrubbed out. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches. The bottom of the trigger guard has handling wear. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes one 4-round box magazine marked “-.401 CAL.-” on the bottom. The magazine is blue with serrations at the bottoms of the sides to ease removal. The magazine has operational wear, some minor surface oxidation, intact feed lips and a very strong spring. Overall, the magazine is in about Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1910 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. It is fed from a 4 round capacity, detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard. The only cartridge offered by Winchester as a factory chambering in the Model 1910 was the .401 S.L., pushing a 200 gr. bullet out of the barrel at more than 2,000 fps., making it more potent than the previous Winchester Self-Loading offerings. The Model 1910 followed the semi-automatic models 1903 (rimfire), 1905 (.32 or .35 Win), and 1907 (.351 Win.), all designed by Thomas Johnson, a key designer for Winchester who also designed the Model 12 shotgun. France ordered some of these rifles from Winchester during WWI and they saw use in early air combat, one was even used by an observer to shoot down a German airplane from a balloon! This example was made in 1936 and is in Very Good condition with 85% of its original finish remaining, a nice bore and strong mechanics. The wood has wear consistent with some use in the field. This is a good example of an early semi-auto rifle, and probably has a lot of history if it could be told. This rifle should be of interest to Winchester collectors, especially with so much remaining original metal finish. It still has a very shootable bore, and if it isn’t gobbled up by collectors, it will make a nice camp rifle that would be excellent against predators and deer. Please see our photos and good luck!