Make: Winchester
Model: 62A
Serial Number: 230617
Year of Manufacture: 1948
Caliber: .22 Short
Action Type: Pump Action Takedown Rifle fed by Tubular Magazine
Barrel Length: 23” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a "U" notch leaf and elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a flat-bottom grooved slide handle, straight grip, straight comb, and a checkered black composition buttplate. There are some scattered compressions, little scuffs, and fine scratches. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some scattered scuffs and discoloration; the checkering and lettering are mostly intact. Overall, the stocks rate in Very Good to Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its metal finish. There are some little nicks and scratches into the finish on the barrel. There are some scratches on the receiver, the most noticeable are on the left side. There are a few dings and nicks into the metal on the receiver and on the action bar. There are a couple of scuffs that have thinned the finish. There is thinning on the leading edges. The screw heads are lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are rounded and some are very light. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The safety 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: None.
Our Assessment: Winchester was the first American company to offer a practical .22 pump-action rifle, the Model 1890. Designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, the Model 1890 was patterned after Winchester's iconic lever-actions with a tubular magazine under the barrel, an exposed hammer, and top ejection. It was an instant success and set the standard for all .22 repeaters that followed, including Winchester's Model 1906 and Model 62. The Model 62 was produced from 1932-1958 with about 310,000 manufactured in total, and featured flat-sided receivers, round barrels, and outstanding wood to metal fit. The craftsmanship that went into those rifles was appreciated by the shooters at the time, and remains valued by collectors today. The rarest and most desirable Winchester Model 62As are the “Gallery Guns”. These were the pump action repeaters used by shooting galleries at amusement parks across the country, which offered the chance for boys and men to “step right up” and show off their marksmanship skills. Gallery Guns have a few distinct features. First, they were chambered for .22 Short, better suited for the short distances of shooting galleries and the crowded environments in which they were hosted. Second, the loading ports were of a triangular shape, as opposed to a cartridge shape on standard Model 62As. The triangular shape facilitated the use of speedloaders, which allowed the carnies to get the gallery guns into the hands of the next customer even faster.
This Winchester Model 62A Rifle was made in 1948, remains in Very Good Plus condition, and is a rare and desirable Gallery Gun. It’s chambered in .22 Short, and features the triangular loading port, a 23” barrel, a bright bore with well defined rifling, 87% of its original blued finish, and elegant walnut stocks. This is a wonderful example of the classic Winchester Model 62A Gallery Gun of the post-war 1940s.
RIFLE