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INFO ON WIN. M 68 (WRF)
peter60
Member Posts: 188 ✭✭✭
WANTING TO KNOW HOW MANY WINCHESTER M68 DUAL SIGHT IN THE 22 WRF WERE MADE AND THE ABOUT VALUE,I HAVE ONE ABOUT 95%ALL AROUND,WITH VERY NICE PLUM BLUE, A VERY NICE STOCK NOT A MARK ON IT AND ALL OF THE FINISH STILL ON IT,WITH A 5X WINCHESTER SCOPE THAT IS LIKE NEW.
THANKS PETE
THANKS PETE
Comments
Winchester introduced the Model 68 in 1934 (the first rifles were shipped to the warehouse May 23, 1934). The 22 W.R.F. cartridge chambering was authorized on June 17, 1935, but Herb House states that it was not actually introduced until April of 1938. Production was all but complete at the end of 1942, but a few rifles were sold up through 1946 when it was discontinued. Total production is listed as 100,730, but Herb states that only 98,496 were sold.
As for the value, and based on your desription of the condition, I would not let it out of my hands for anything less than $1600. In an auction, it could possibly go for several hundred $$$ more.
WACA Historian & Life Member
I'm not doubting your rifle, just very curious and intrigued. With Winchesters I never say never. Are the proof marks rolled to the side on the barrel and receiver? Do you know any of it's provenance?
If it is correct, I would guess you could name your own price.
I would be very interested in any information you get on this rifle. If it is a true 68 dualsight or factory scoped WRF model 68 it has to be very rare. There were only about 1400 model 67 or 677 scoped rifles produced. Houze does state that the model 68 production changes follow the 67's, but there is no mention of a scoped 68. A scoped 68 would be rare, a scoped 68 in WRF would be rarer still.
I'm not doubting your rifle, just very curious and intrigued. With Winchesters I never say never. Are the proof marks rolled to the side on the barrel and receiver? Do you know any of it's provenance?
If it is correct, I would guess you could name your own price.
Hello Scott,
According to the references I have, the scoped variant of the Model 68 was authorized on March 9, 1937. To quote the reference, it states;
"Rifles with Winchester 5-power telesopes were authorized on March 9, 1937. These rifles were equipped with telescope bases attached to the rifle barrel. Telescopes were not attached to the rifle but were packed separately in the same carton with the rifle." end quote
Further in the same reference, it states;
"The manufacture of M/68 rifles with Winchester 5-power scopes was discontinued in 1939." end quote.
WACA Historian & Life Member
In 1935 the 22 WRF cartridge was chambered in the rifle.
In 1936, after production of almost 54,000 guns, telescopic sights were offered and were "pushed" for this model, but comparatively few were sold. Two and three quarter or five power scopes were available until 1937 when the lower power scopes were dropped from production due to very poor sales.
Madis' notes seem to match up "fairly well" with the "1937" Houze reference that Bert shows.
Madis does show a picture of a Scoped Model 68 .22 WRF caliber with the Winchester A-5 scope on page 250 of the Winchester Handbook.
Included with the below info is some of Madis' work ([:D] - no offence intended Bert!)concerning the dual sight Model 68:
In 1935 the 22 WRF cartridge was chambered in the rifle.
In 1936, after production of almost 54,000 guns, telescopic sights were offered and were "pushed" for this model, but comparatively few were sold. Two and three quarter or five power scopes were available until 1937 when the lower power scopes were dropped from production due to very poor sales.
Madis' notes seem to match up "fairly well" with the "1937" Houze reference that Bert shows.
Madis does show a picture of a Scoped Model 68 .22 WRF caliber with the Winchester A-5 scope on page 250 of the Winchester Handbook.
Madis is close, but he is in error concerning the 2-3/4 power telescopes being available on the Model 68. The original catalogs only show the 5X telescope, and they are consistant with what Herb Houze wrote.
As it applies to the many different Winchester .22 rimfire rifles, there are two trusted sources of information outside of the original catalogs... Ned Schwing and Herb House. Madis' personal interests were elsewhere (the lever-action centerfires), and it appears that he did not spend a lot of time researching the .22 caliber rifles.
WACA Historian & Life Member