Make: Winchester
Model: 1903
Serial Number: 29533
Year of Manufacture: 1907 (Winchester Serial Lookup pg. 14)
Caliber: .22 Winchester Automatic Rimfire (WAR)
Action Type: Semi-Auto Rifle fed by Tubular Magazine in Buttstock
Barrel Length: 20” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch elevator-adjustable sight dovetailed to the top rear of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut featuring a nose cap with an aperture for the bolt plunger, a straight grip, a straight comb, and a curved metal buttplate with an aperture for the in-buttstock magazine tube. The wood shows some light nicks, scratches, and compressions, as well as a few minor handling and storage marks. There are several significant cracks on all sides of the wrist. There are some repair pins in the wrist as well. There is a very short crack at the left rear of the buttstock and a large crack at the toe on the right side. The LOP measures 13 1/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stocks are in Fair Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is distinct. There is heavy stubborn fouling and some erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates a 3 or 4 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal refinish. The balance of the finish shows a bit of contact wear, light scratches, nicks, and handling marks. There are some minor dings along the front of the barrel. The receiver and rear of the barrel have speckles of surface oxidation. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are mostly clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The charging handle is a plunger in the front of the forend. There is a push-button safety at the back of the trigger guard. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: When Winchester introduced their Model 1903 semi-automatic rifle, they purposely chambered it in .22 Winchester Automatic Rimfire. For proper operation, a semi-auto rifle such as the Model 1903 couldn’t handle the fouling of black powder, and since .22 Long Rifle ammo loaded with black powder was prevalent at the time, Winchester developed the .22 Win Auto smokeless powder cartridge with a slightly longer case to prevent the attempted use of .22 LR ammo. Later on, the .22 Long Rifle cartridge would become ubiquitous, and the Model 1903 would be replaced with the Model 63 (chambered in .22 LR) in 1933; no other rifle was ever chambered in .22 Winchester Automatic Rimfire. This Winchester Model 1903 Rifle was made in 1907, and is in Good condition. The rifle shows a bit of wear since the refinish consistent with responsible use, but its strong mechanics will make for a nice shooter if you can source some .22 Winchester Automatic. Whether you're looking to add to your Winchester collection or just have an affinity for classic .22 autoloaders, this is a nice rifle to add to any collection.
RIFLE