Winchester Model 61 .22 WMR Win. Magnum 24″ Pump Action Rifle, MFD 1962 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,076.00
LSB#: LSB251001CE004
Make: Winchester
Model: 61
Serial Number: 327898
Year of Manufacture: 1962 / ATF Classification: C&R
Caliber/Gauge: .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR)
Action Type: Pump Action (Slide Action)
Barrel Length: 24″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded post dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight has been removed and a dovetail blank has been inserted. A Weaver K4 60-B is mounted atop the grooved receiver. The glass is a little cloudy and the reticle isn’t perfectly vertical. The optic rates in Good condition.
Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is two-piece wood with a semi-pistol grip, 17 rib forend, straight comb, and a checkered hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The buttplate shows moderate wear with lots of a white residue stuck on and in the checkering. The stock shows light wear with infrequent pressure dings and scuffs. Most notable is a small chip taken from the left side of the semi-pistol grip. The LOP measures 13.5″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are no cracks. The stock is in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is sharp with stubborn fouling. There is faint erosion in the bore with light oxidation towards the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7.5/10.
Overall Condition: This firearm retains 75% of its original finish. The receiver shows mainly freckling in the finish and some oxidation around the trigger guard. The magazine tube shows light operational wear along with a few small scuffs and oxidation spots. The barrel shows finish loss on top of the barrel with some scattered dings and freckling. The bolt shows some moderate surface oxidation. The markings are clear and complete. The screw heads show faint tooling, and have turnable slots. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Scope
Our Assessment: This is a desirable late production example of Winchester’s hammerless slide action rimfire, configured in the harder to find .22 WMR chambering. The long 24″ barrel gives the rifle a graceful sporting profile and an excellent sight radius, while allowing the magnum rimfire cartridge to reach its full ballistic potential. The Model 61’s enclosed hammer design provides a clean receiver line and smooth cycling, setting it apart from earlier exposed hammer pump rifles. Overall handling is balanced and deliberate, with the solid feel that made the Model 61 one of Winchester’s most refined rimfire designs.
As a 1962 production rifle, this Model 61 represents the mature end of Winchester’s rimfire pump action development, produced just a year before the end of Model 61 production. Examples in .22 WMR are significantly scarcer than their .22 LR counterparts and are widely sought after today. This rifle stands as a strong representative of Winchester’s high quality postwar rimfire craftsmanship and remains one of the finest pump action rimfire rifles ever produced. -C.R.
