Make: Winchester
Model: 1910
Serial Number: 3118
Year of Manufacture: 1910
Caliber: .401 Winchester Self-Loading (.401 W.S.L.)
Action Type: Blowback Operated Semi-Automatic Rifle with Removable 4-Round Magazine
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. SELF LOADING MODEL 1910.", with patent dates and "-.401 CAL.", and below the rear sight with "-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER". The top-rear of the barrel and top-front of the receiver each have a Winchester proof. The left of the receiver and the trigger housing just below are each marked "3118". The top tang is marked "WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF / MOD. 1910 S.L.".
Barrel Length: 20” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to a base on the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U"-notch ghost ring elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a flat-bottom half-pistol grip, straight comb, and Winchester checkered black hard rubber buttplate. The forend shows the cracking endemic to this model, mostly on the right side. The forend has handling wear with finish loss, as well as scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. The buttstock shows scattered nicks, scuffs, and scratches, as well as spots of finish loss along the belly. The LOP measures 13 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has light wear with some stubborn residue in its well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in Good Plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion and some stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates an 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There is some scattered finish wear, most notable at the bottom-front of the receiver and on the barrel forward of the forend. There are scattered light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There is some light surface oxidation, mostly on the barrel. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good 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 4-round magazine correctly, solely marked “.401 CAL.” on the bottom floorplate.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1910 was a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle chambered in .401 Winchester Self-Loading, and fed from a 4-round detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard. Made from 1910-1936 with only 20,787 produced, they remain fairly rare today. The .401 WSL chambering pushed a 200 grain bullet out of the barrel at more than 2,000 fps, making it more potent than the previous Winchester Self-Loading offerings. The Model 1910 followed the semi-automatic Model 1903 (rimfire), 1905 (.32 or .35 WSL), and 1907 (.351 WSL), all designed by Thomas Johnson, a key designer for Winchester who also designed the Model 12 shotgun. France ordered some of these rifles from Winchester during WW1, and they saw use in early air combat. One was even used by an observer to shoot down a German airplane from a balloon.
This Rare, First Year Winchester Model 1910 Semi-Auto Rifle was made in 1910 and is in Very Good condition. It features 80% of its original finish, a surprisingly nice bore, and strong mechanics. The wood has scattered wear, and the forend displays the cracking that typically plagues these guns. While this would make a fine camp rifle against predators and deer, this scarce first year Model 1910 would be an even better addition to an early Winchester semi-auto rifle collection.
RIFLE