M1907 Winchester SLR

JimBob · January 25, 2011, 10:54:28 PM

Quote from: Delmonico on January 25, 2011, 10:09:49 PM

ALLRIGHT. I think my all time favorite old gun add is the Colt with Tex and Patches,"Colt,The Right Arm of Law and Order".Just says something that resonates.

Niederlander · January 26, 2011, 06:49:58 AM

I've always loved that ad, but I do feel bad for the horses!

Charles Isaac · July 10, 2011, 12:51:41 PM

Here's a 3 digit serial number M1910 .401 WSL, made in 1910 of course, that I picked up on Gunbroker for $202. Price shows the lack of interest in these early self loaders. 200gr bullet with 2000 ft lbs of muzzle energy-the Winchester ads of the day stated "Hits Like a Krag" and "Hits Like The Hammer of Thor".

I picked up an M1907 .351 4 digit serial number (made in 1907) in Vermont for $175 at a small gun shop while visiting. The .401 came from a seller in Massachusetts, and it's fairly well known that the WSLs are pretty common in the northeast due to them having been considered handy moose, deer and bear rifles out in the timber.

They were among the most advanced arms of their type during their time, but most of the people that used these WSLs are gone now. The book written about them is called "The Forgotten Winchesters" (go figure) and there is no mention of them on the Winchester collectors website.

But they are efficient, reliable and I'll agree that they are plenty accurate at normal woods hunting and gunfight ranges. I often say "The only jam you'll get with a WSL is on your toast."

Sometimes, over engineering is a positive thing.

litl rooster · July 10, 2011, 01:23:12 PM

I occassionaly see one of these listed on gunbroker.............I have never seen one up close or spoke with anyone about them. I have a little bit of desire to own a 1911 Winchester SL shotgun this would make a nice companion to one.
don't give them alot of press maybe the prices will stay down on them

pony express · July 10, 2011, 02:29:10 PM

Q. What's faster than Charles Isaac shooting a Krag?

A Charles Isaac shooting a:

Quote from: Charles Isaac on July 10, 2011, 12:51:41 PM

Charles Isaac · July 10, 2011, 03:54:17 PM

Thank you Sir. Now If I could just trade up some guns for that Colt's Bisley of yours, it would make my whole year

Forty Rod · July 10, 2011, 06:00:12 PM

Quote from: Charles Isaac on July 10, 2011, 12:51:41 PM
Here's a 3 digit serial number M1910 .401 WSL, made in 1910 of course, that I picked up on Gunbroker for $202. Price shows the lack of interest in these early self loaders. 200gr bullet with 2000 ft lbs of muzzle energy-the Winchester ads of the day stated "Hits Like a Krag" and "Hits Like The Hammer of Thor".

I picked up an M1907 .351 4 digit serial number (made in 1907) in Vermont for $175 at a small gun shop while visiting. The .401 came from a seller in Massachusetts, and it's fairly well known that the WSLs are pretty common in the northeast due to them having been considered handy moose, deer and bear rifles out in the timber.

I can see that. We don't have hardly any moose, deer, or bear where I grew up in the Rockies, and over in Washington and Oregon there's hardly any timber.

Seriously, they were never popular in the west, a tleast not as popular as Remington 8 and 81 and almost any bolt or lever gun. I don't even remember all that many big caliber levers and most bolt actions were -'06. A few .270s were coming in by the time I left and something like a .243 was a "girl's gun".
They were among the most advanced arms of their type during their time, but most of the people that used these WSLs are gone now. The book written about them is called "The Forgotten Winchesters" (go figure) and there is no mention of them on the Winchester collectors website.

But they are efficient, reliable and I'll agree that they are plenty accurate at normal woods hunting and gunfight ranges. I often say "The only jam you'll get with a WSL is on your toast."

Sometimes, over engineering is a positive thing.

Charles Isaac · July 10, 2011, 07:01:51 PM

Quote from: Forty Rod on July 10, 2011, 06:00:12 PM
I can see that. We don't have hardly any moose, deer, or bear where I grew up in the Rockies, and over in Washington and Oregon there's hardly any timber.

Seriously, they were never popular in the west, a tleast not as popular as Remington 8 and 81 and almost any bolt or lever gun. I don't even remember all that many big caliber levers and most bolt actions were -'06. A few .270s were coming in by the time I left and something like a .243 was a "girl's gun".

Well Sir, the North Easterners sure were fond of those WSLs, weren't they!!. I'd ask one to explain in detail, but the men I knew that used them are dead.

pony express · July 10, 2011, 10:13:05 PM

Quote from: Charles Isaac on July 10, 2011, 03:54:17 PM
Thank you Sir. Now If I could just trade up some guns for that Colt's Bisley of yours, it would make my whole year

And you are welcome, Sir! But the Bisley will be staying here....Even though I've got half a dozen other handguns I can shoot better.

Galen · January 11, 2017, 08:41:36 PM

Anyone can recommend a gunsmith that is familiar with the 1910 WSL?

Niederlander · January 12, 2017, 06:04:35 AM

Good luck on your quest. I'm not sure there IS a gunsmith familiar with them, as they haven't really been too popular for a looong time. Seems sort of like finding one familiar with the Savage navy revolver. Personally, I'd like to have a 1907, but have never found one cheap enough.

Bat 2919 · January 12, 2017, 07:04:46 AM

Lonnie at Run N Iron http://www.runniron.com/index.html is my go to guy for my most complicated jobs. He just shortened/installed a replacement main spring I found and also replaced the stock/round front charging handle on my Winchester 1907 351WSL with a LE/prison guard style hooked handle.

Niederlander · January 12, 2017, 09:21:21 AM

It figures Lonnie would be the guy working on a fairly archaic rifle. Cool!

Bat 2919 · January 25, 2017, 09:17:48 PM

AMC is running a commercial for their latest series, a horse opera set after the turn of the last century in Texas.

http://www.amc.com/shows/the-son

The star Pierce Brosnan is holding a Winchester Self Loading Rifle of some sort in both the teaser and this promo photo.

smoke · February 01, 2017, 07:16:28 AM

An Winchester SLR and a Colt 1911.

Charles Isaac · February 05, 2017, 03:44:36 PM

A couple of wool clad gents from the distant past with a Model 1910 and a Model 8.

pony express · February 05, 2017, 08:08:38 PM

Wonder what caliber? Looks like it was big enough for moose. I was tempted by a Model 8, 35 Remington, some years ago. Don't know what was wrong with me at the time-I should have bought it, they've doubled in price since then.

Charles Isaac · February 06, 2017, 09:21:31 PM

I would say probably a .35 but the 30-30 powered .30 and .32 Rem will do the job too. I'd say probably not a .25, but who knows.

I find those 8s and 81s quite often. I had an 81 in .300 Savage that turned out to have a loose barrel jacket so it had a lot of barrel whip and was kind of punishing to fire for any length of time! I got rid of it and never did find a decently priced 8 in .35 to replace it with. Ended up with the .351 and .401 WSLs, them having satisfied my desire for early autoloading rifles for the time being. Those model 8s are really cool though