forindooruseonly
Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2009
- Messages
- 1,076
I don't see much about the Winchester 63 anymore, the venerable Winnie just doesn't seem to draw the excitement or buzz that so many other semi-auto .22s do. It's not customizable, as is the Lego-like Ruger 10/22. It's not tactical, like the AR 15/22. It's not cheap, like the Marlins and Savages. It's not mentioned as Americana like the Remington Speedmaster. It's not even labeled classy like the Browning SA-22. Sadly, the Winchester Model 63 just is kind of forgotten, and I'm not sure why. To reinforce this point, I recently sat through an entire gun show trying to sell off some of my collection, and a hundred people must have stopped and looked at my Ruger 10/22 full of Volquartsen parts and topped with a giant scope, while no one bothered to cast a wayward glance at a pristine Winchester Model 63 sitting right next to it...
Maybe I'm just old-fashioned. Maybe it's just a sign of the times. Maybe Winchester 22s have gotten to be such a niche market that they're just ignored by everyone else. I don't know, but it's a shame that the old 63 doesn't get a little more respect. It's a great field gun, light, handy and quick to get on target. It's accurate. It's reliable. Mostly, the Model 63 is beautiful to look at - graceful lines and the unbeatable combination of blued steel and walnut. It is, by far and away, my absolute favorite semi-auto .22 rifle ever built.
I recently acquired this example which dates to 1954 from an older gentleman who knew I had a thing for Winchester .22s. No history for the gun other than he bought it thirty years ago from the original owner's widow. I wish I knew more about the history of this particular gun - we can't decide if this is one of the rare "deluxe" models, or a well done custom job. There was no standard deluxe version, some had some radically different features, some just had fancy grades of wood, some had a little of everything. Either way, it is a gorgeous gun and will be great company in the woods on the farm...
Maybe I'm just old-fashioned. Maybe it's just a sign of the times. Maybe Winchester 22s have gotten to be such a niche market that they're just ignored by everyone else. I don't know, but it's a shame that the old 63 doesn't get a little more respect. It's a great field gun, light, handy and quick to get on target. It's accurate. It's reliable. Mostly, the Model 63 is beautiful to look at - graceful lines and the unbeatable combination of blued steel and walnut. It is, by far and away, my absolute favorite semi-auto .22 rifle ever built.
I recently acquired this example which dates to 1954 from an older gentleman who knew I had a thing for Winchester .22s. No history for the gun other than he bought it thirty years ago from the original owner's widow. I wish I knew more about the history of this particular gun - we can't decide if this is one of the rare "deluxe" models, or a well done custom job. There was no standard deluxe version, some had some radically different features, some just had fancy grades of wood, some had a little of everything. Either way, it is a gorgeous gun and will be great company in the woods on the farm...