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Make: Winchester
Model: 1910
Serial Number: 7915
Year of Manufacture: 1912
Caliber: .401 Winchester Self Loading (.401 W.S.L.)
Action Type: Blowback Operated Semi-Automatic with 4-Round Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. SELF LOADING MODEL 1910. PAT. AUG. 27. / DEC. 10. 1901. FEB. 25. 1902. FEB. 17. DEC. 22. 1903. AUG. 21. OCT. 30. 1906. JULY 5. 1910.”, “-.401 CAL.”, and “-NICKEL STEEL BARREL- / ESPECIALLY FOR SMOKELESS POWDER”. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver at the front are each marked with an ovalled “WP” proof mark. The left receiver flat is marked “7915” at the bottom-rear, and the bottom-left shoulder of the trigger portion of the receiver is marked “7915” above the trigger. 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 dovetail set to a base integral to the front of the barrel. The rear sight dovetail is filled. The tang is mounted with a Lyman aperture sight with locking lever.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a flat-bottom half-pistol grip, straight comb, replacement serrated Remington black hard rubber buttplate, and sling eyelets in the belly and forend cap. The stocks have several scattered light compressions, nicks, dings, scratches, and scuffs with a few more moderate marks and some areas of thinning finish. The right side of the forend is cracked at the receiver. The LOP measures 13 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Fair 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 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows operation wear on the charger. There is minor thinning on the leading edges. There are several scattered light scratches and handling marks, again mostly on the receiver with little on the barrel. There is some minor oxidation on the receiver. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good Plus 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 vintage original blued 4-round magazine correctly, solely marked “-.401 CAL-” on the bottom.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1910 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle chambered exclusively 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, any Model 1910s remain fairly rare today. The .401 WSL chambering pushed a 200 grain bullet out of the barrel at more than 2,000 fps, easily twice the energy of a modern .41 Magnum shot out of a pistol, and made 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 aboard a balloon to shoot down a German airplane.
This Winchester Model 1910 Rifle was made in 1912, quite early in production, and is in Very Good Plus Condition. It features a 20” round barrel, 95% of its crisp, original blued finish, elegant two-piece smooth walnut stocks (the right side of the forend is cracked at the receiver, and the buttplate is a serrated Remington black hard rubber replacement), a tang mounted Lyman aperture sight, a correct, original blued 4-round mag, and a bright, nearly pristine bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. This is a wonderful example of an early semi-auto rifle, and should be of interest to Winchester collectors. If it isn’t gobbled up by collectors, this will make a nice camp rifle that would be excellent against predators and deer.