Make: Winchester
Model: 1905
Serial Number: 3979
Year of Manufacture: 1905, 1st Year Production
Caliber: .32 Winchester Self-Loading (.32 W.S.L.)
Action Type: Blowback Operated Semi-Automatic Rifle with Removable 5-Round Magazine
Barrel Length: 22” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Sheard brass beaded blade dovetailed to a base on the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a flat-top "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is equipped with a folding peep aperture sight adjustable for elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a capped semi-pistol grip, straight comb, and Winchester checkered black hard rubber buttplate. There are notable splits on the sides of the wrist. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, and scratches. The checkering shows wear, but is visible and generally well defined. The LOP measures 13 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has moderate to heavy wear, the checkering and logo are considerably worn. Overall, the stocks are in Good to Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is some scattered faint erosion in the grooves. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates an 8.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its current metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The edges and markings are soft from the refinish. There are areas of light pitting under the finish visible on the barrel and receiver flats. There are scattered light nicks and scratches. The nosecap is going to a light patina. 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 about Very Good to Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes one original vintage blued 5-round magazine correctly, solely marked “-.32 CAL-” on the bottom floorplate.
Our Assessment: The Model 1905 is part of Winchester's self-loading line which began in 1903 with a .22 caliber autoloader. The rifles used a blowback-operated, semi-automatic design, even the later Model 1910 which fired a stout .401 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge. The Model 1905 was chambered in the mid-power .32 and .35 WSL cartridges, and production ended in 1920 after a little over 29,000 had been built. The rifles were equipped with either 5 or 10-round box magazines, with the 5-rounders being more common as they were a bit more convenient to carry through brush. The .32 WSL cartridge used in the Model 1905 was intended as a short-range round for deer and black bear, but with the release of the Model 1907, chambered for .351 WSL, it lost quite a bit of interest. These guns are important pieces for any collection as they tell the story of Browning and Remington’s partnership after Browning and Winchester had, as Indiana Jones would say, a “bit of a falling out”. It was because Winchester had to circumvent the Browning Patented Remington Model 8 (for which Winchester's lawyers had helped draw up Browning's patents) that this rifle was a bit awkward. The plunger isn't too difficult to use on the rimfire Model 1903, but the springs on the more powerful centerfire models can be a tad stiff. There should be both a bolt handle and a bolt lock, but those were patented by Browning. It should be noted that the bolt can be locked backward, but it requires rotating the charging plunger when all the way to the rear, which can take some practice.
This Rare, First Year Winchester Model 1905 Deluxe Semi-Auto Rifle was made in 1905 and is in Very Good to Fine condition as refinished. The wrist shows the cracking endemic to most of Winchester's centerfire "Self-Loading" line, but the stocks are beautifully checkered, which is a fairly scarce “deluxe” factory feature. The gun also retains a very good bore and strong mechanics. All told, as restored, this is a fine example of a rare, early Winchester Model 1905, and will add nicely to any collection.
RIFLE