Winchester Model 62A .22 S, L & LR Pump / Slide Action Rifle, MFD 1958 C&R
SOLD FOR: $705
WYO#: 240224CC031
Make: Winchester
Model: 62A
Serial Number: 401966
Year of Manufacture: 1958
Caliber: .22 S, L & LR
Action Type: Pump Action with Tubular Magazine and Takedown Receiver
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. / -U.S. OF AMERICA-“, “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-“, “MODEL 62A- / 22 S, L OR LR-”. The underside front of the receiver is marked “401966” and the lower tang is marked “401966”. There are ovalled “WP” proof marks at the top rear of the barrel and the top of the receiver’s chamber ring.
Barrel Length: 23
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch, flat-top leaf and elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The slide-step elevator is present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a flat-bottom grooved slide handle, straight grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. There are light handling marks and scattered rubs. The underside of the forend has a long drag mark. The LOP measures 13 1/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear at the heel and toe with well-defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The action shows minor operational wear, as does the magazine tube. There are a few scattered tiny spots of faint surface oxidation on the frame and some light edgewear. This is truly a collector-quality rifle. The screw heads are barely worn. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine to excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly and smoothly and locks up solidly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. 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: Ever since 1890 when Winchester brought out a slide-action rifle with that year’s model number, the Model 1890 pretty much ruled the roost for rimfire repeaters, also known as “gallery guns” in a specific caliber/configuration. This tubular-magazine rimfire was wildly popular not only in the plethora of shooting galleries across the U.S. but in the hands of young boys and men who loved to shoot and hunt small game. The Model 1890 was a John Browning design and the first commercially successful repeating rimfire rifle.
Sixteen years later an almost identical rifle, sans the expensive-to-manufacture octagon barrel and crescent buttplate, was introduced as the Model 1906. Both models continued to be produced until 1932, when they were replaced by a more modern Model 62 & 62A. A name change, from the Model 62 to the Model 62A, occurred in the middle of 1940 when Winchester changed the breech bolt mechanism. This occurred around serial number 98,200 and production ceased in 1959 at approximately serial number 410456.
These Model 62 rifles proved extremely popular over the years. Their flat-sided receivers were dead flat, the round barrels were round and without ripples, the wood to metal fit was outstanding. The craftsmanship and work ethic that went into the guns was valuable to the shooters at the time, and this value remains to this day with the collectors.
This Model 62A rifle was made in 1958, very late in production, and is a desirable Gun in this condition. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. This is a rifle which will make a great addition to even advanced Winchester collections, and an example such as this is a rare find.
Please see our photos and enjoy the auction.-K.F.