Make: Winchester
Model: 07 (previously 1907)
Serial Number: 54461
Year of Manufacture: 1953
Caliber: .351 Winchester Self-Loading (.351 W.S.L.)
Action Type: Blowback Operated Semi-Automatic Rifle with Removable 5-Round Magazine
Barrel Length: 20” Round
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 to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a flat-bottom half-pistol grip, straight comb, sling swivels at the front and rear, and a checkered steel buttplate. The stocks have some evenly dispersed light nicks, scuffs, and scratches with a few more notable dings. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear around the edges with well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are small spots of minor surface oxidation and some light scratches on the sides of the receiver. The action shows light operational wear. There are a few other minor marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine condition.
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 “-.351 CAL-” on the bottom floorplate.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1907 (later renamed the Model 07) was a blowback-operated semi-automatic rifle, chambered in .351 Winchester Self-Loading, and fed from a detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard. Made from 1907-1957 with less than 50,000 produced, it remains a fairly rare rifle today. The Model 1907, as well as many other Winchester semi-automatic rifles of the early 1900s, was designed by Thomas Johnson, a key designer for Winchester who also designed the Model 12 shotgun. His series of Winchester self-loading rifles tells an interesting tale, as John Browning had previously designed rifles for Winchester incorporating helpful features like a bolt handle (which Winchester had patented for Browning), only for the two to fail to reach an agreement and the innovations go to Remington for production under the Browning patent. Thus, many of the awkward features on the Model 1907 rifle were done to avoid patent infringement by Winchester on a patent that they had paid for but from which Remington was benefiting.
This Model 07 rifle was made after WW2, and shows the improved features found in later rifles. The stocks are much thicker than the early examples, which were known to develop severe cracks with normal use. The charging plunger has a finger-groove tip, which anyone who has operated the earlier smooth, round plungers will immediately recognize as a needed improvement. The magazine release tab is larger and serrated. Rounding out the updates is a sturdy checkered steel buttplate and a set of sling swivels. This Model 07 is in Fine condition, showing signs of light use, and is a neat, sweet, and complete example of an early Winchester self-loading rifle design.
RIFLE