Make: Winchester
Model: 07
Serial Number: 56261
Year of Manufacture: 1955
Caliber: .351 Winchester Self Loading (.351 W.S.L.)
Action Type: Blowback Operated Semi-Automatic with Removable 5-Round Magazine
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked "MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-", "-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-", and "MODEL 07 - 351 CAL.-". 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 "56261".
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 Redfield "U"-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation, has a white diamond aiming reference, and can be reversed to present a "V"-notch.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a flat-bottom half-pistol grip, straight comb, and checkered steel buttplate. There is a sling plate inlaid to the belly and a sling swivel mounted to the bottom of the forend cap. There is a notable crack in the left of the wrist, extending back past the grip. Otherwise, the stocks have only some minor scuffs and handling marks. The LOP measures 14 1/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has light wear, mostly around the edges, with some minor oxidation in the well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in Good to Very Good 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, mostly toward the muzzle-end. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates an 8 or 9 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 92% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. There are some scattered minor nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There are some spots of faint surface oxidation, mostly on the receiver. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. 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 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. .351 WSL was capable of pushing a 180 grain bullet out of the barrel at more than 1,800 fps, about double the energy of modern .357 Magnum cartridges. 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 in 1955 and shows the improved features found in later rifles. The stocks are much thicker than the early examples, which were well 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 Very Good condition, showing signs of responsible use, and is a neat, sweet, and complete example of an early Winchester self-loading rifle design.
RIFLE