Winchester Model 1903
Encyclopedia
The Winchester Model 1903 was the first commercially available semi-automatic firearm
firearm made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
.
, who had joined Winchester in 1885 and had become nationally known as an inventor of successful rifles. It was first chambered for the .22 Winchester Automatic
cartridge.
In 1919, the Model 1903 moniker was shortened to Model 03, and following a partial redesign in the 1930s, was renamed the Model 63. In addition to other changes, the model fired the .22 Long Rifle
cartridge. This cartridge was more popular than the .22 Winchester Automatic cartridge, and was demanded by customers.
The Model 63 was first available for purchase in 1933 and remained in production until 1958.
Production totaled approximately 126,000 Model 1903 rifles and approximately 175,000 Model 63 rifles.
The Model 1903/Model 63 had a tubular magazines in the butt stock
. The magazine held ten cartridges, and was loaded through a slot in the right side of the butt stock.
The Model 1903 and Model 63 were takedown rifles
. The takedown mechanism on the Model 1903 required the user to press the takedown screw-lock down through a slot in the tang to release the lock from the ratchet. The Model 63 featured an improved mechanism that required the user to simply turn the takedown screw to the left until the mechanism released.
The self-loading feature of the Model 1903/Model 63 was accomplished by use of a simple blow-back operated mechanism. This mechanism featured a balanced breech bolt, meaning that the breech bolt contained a quantity of metal proportioned to the weight and velocity of the bullet. This balances the recoil forces so that the breech bolt does not move rearward until the bullet has left the muzzle of the barrel, and therefore allows the bullet to be fired with no loss of energy. The original design of this self-loading mechanism required Winchester to design a custom cartridge (the .22 Winchester Automatic
) to go along with it. This mechanism was redesigned for the Model 63 to allow it to fire the .22 Long Rifle
cartridge, which by then had become much more popular.
The Model 1903 was advertised as an "automatic rifle". In modern times, it is more appropriately referred to as a semi-automatic rifle since the loading mechanism required the trigger to be pulled for each shot.
The first 5000 rifles were produced without a safety mechanism. After this, a cross-bolt safety
was added.
The Model 63, introduced in 1933, was chambered for the popular and widely available .22 Long Rifle
cartridge. It was initially made with a 20" barrel
, then with a 23" barrel from 1936 until the end of production in 1958. About 175,000 Model 63 rifles were manufactured, with the last 10,000 having grooved receiver tops for scope
mounting.
Semi-automatic firearm
A semi-automatic, or self-loading firearm is a weapon which performs all steps necessary to prepare the weapon to fire again after firing—assuming cartridges remain in the weapon's feed device or magazine...
firearm made by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.-...
.
History
The Winchester Model 1903 was designed by T.C. JohnsonT.C. Johnson
Thomas Crosley Johnson was an American firearms designer. The son of a President of the Yale Safe and Iron Company, Johnson was trained as an industrial engineer and worked for several companies before coming to the Winchester Repeating Arms Company...
, who had joined Winchester in 1885 and had become nationally known as an inventor of successful rifles. It was first chambered for the .22 Winchester Automatic
.22 Winchester Automatic
The .22 Winchester Automatic is a .22 in American rimfire rifle cartridge....
cartridge.
In 1919, the Model 1903 moniker was shortened to Model 03, and following a partial redesign in the 1930s, was renamed the Model 63. In addition to other changes, the model fired the .22 Long Rifle
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
cartridge. This cartridge was more popular than the .22 Winchester Automatic cartridge, and was demanded by customers.
The Model 63 was first available for purchase in 1933 and remained in production until 1958.
Production totaled approximately 126,000 Model 1903 rifles and approximately 175,000 Model 63 rifles.
Design and Features
The Model 1903/Model 63 featured a 20 inches (508 mm) round barrel. A 23 inches (584.2 mm) barrel was approved for manufacturing in 1933, and the 20 inches (508 mm) barrel was discontinued in 1936.The Model 1903/Model 63 had a tubular magazines in the butt stock
Stock (firearm)
A stock, also known as a buttstock or shoulder stock, is a part of a rifle or other firearm, to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, that is held against one's shoulder when firing the gun. Stocks are also found on crossbows though a crossbow stock is more properly referred to as a...
. The magazine held ten cartridges, and was loaded through a slot in the right side of the butt stock.
The Model 1903 and Model 63 were takedown rifles
Takedown gun
A takedown gun is a long gun designed to be taken apart significantly reducing its length, making it easier to store, pack, transport and conceal. A variety of barrel, stock, and receiver designs have been invented to facilitate takedown. For example, the hinged design of many break-action...
. The takedown mechanism on the Model 1903 required the user to press the takedown screw-lock down through a slot in the tang to release the lock from the ratchet. The Model 63 featured an improved mechanism that required the user to simply turn the takedown screw to the left until the mechanism released.
The self-loading feature of the Model 1903/Model 63 was accomplished by use of a simple blow-back operated mechanism. This mechanism featured a balanced breech bolt, meaning that the breech bolt contained a quantity of metal proportioned to the weight and velocity of the bullet. This balances the recoil forces so that the breech bolt does not move rearward until the bullet has left the muzzle of the barrel, and therefore allows the bullet to be fired with no loss of energy. The original design of this self-loading mechanism required Winchester to design a custom cartridge (the .22 Winchester Automatic
.22 Winchester Automatic
The .22 Winchester Automatic is a .22 in American rimfire rifle cartridge....
) to go along with it. This mechanism was redesigned for the Model 63 to allow it to fire the .22 Long Rifle
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
cartridge, which by then had become much more popular.
The Model 1903 was advertised as an "automatic rifle". In modern times, it is more appropriately referred to as a semi-automatic rifle since the loading mechanism required the trigger to be pulled for each shot.
Variants
The Model 1903 was available in a "standard" and a "deluxe" version (also called "plain" and "fancy" versions). The standard version had a plain walnut stock with a plan straight grip. The deluxe version had a checkered walnut pistol grip stock with a checkered forearm.A tubular magazine located in the buttstock held ten cartridges.The first 5000 rifles were produced without a safety mechanism. After this, a cross-bolt safety
Safety (firearms)
In firearms, a safety or safety catch is a mechanism used to help prevent the accidental discharge of a firearm, helping to ensure safer handling....
was added.
The Model 63, introduced in 1933, was chambered for the popular and widely available .22 Long Rifle
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle rimfire cartridge is a long established variety of ammunition, and in terms of units sold is still by far the most common in the world today. The cartridge is often referred to simply as .22 LR and various rifles, pistols, revolvers, and even some smoothbore shotguns have...
cartridge. It was initially made with a 20" barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
, then with a 23" barrel from 1936 until the end of production in 1958. About 175,000 Model 63 rifles were manufactured, with the last 10,000 having grooved receiver tops for scope
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
mounting.