My Latest Winchester 63

[forindooruseonly]

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...

 

[Molasses]

Wow. That is certainly nice.
I think a lot of the reason for the lack of interest in the Model 63 is that once prices climbed into the collector range, folks quit wanting to do anything else with them.

I know that in the case of my one and only example, I only turned the tag over to read the price out of bored curiosity and it was only after realizing that it was very affordable that the excitement set in.

 

[stan rose]

Very nice looking rifle.

 

[Georgia Gunner]

If I had the extra money I would buy that one in a heart beat.

 

[Savage99]

That's a beautiful rifle. My compliments.

The one I have has plain wood. Also it's not drilled and tapped for a scope and there is a mark on the stock where a tang site had been!

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Nice snag/save on the old beauty.( I guess 1954 qualifies as old)

I need to go to better caliber gun shows, don't see one that clean often.
You have come across several pristine, Deluxe Winchester .22s over the years.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Beautiful 63 for sure. The checkering doesn't look Winchester to me, but I am no expert. I have a thing for the 07's and the 63's. They are outstanding firearms that will never be made again. With mimimal maintaince and halfway decent ammo they just don't fail to fire everytime the trigger is pulled. The only complaint I have against the 63 is the barrel is too long. I always thought it should be about 18 to 20 inches.
Enjoy.

 

[Tommy Medlin]

You're not going to take that beauty bangin'around in the woods ,are you???

 

[huntsman]

I have to admit checkering on a 63 looks odd to me(makes it look like a bigboy gun ) mine is a 55 and has been in the family since Dad bought it new and it's only 4 years older than me

 

[Liberty1776]

dear Mr. Original Poster - I agree with you 100% on the older Winchesters, but my particular nug is the Model 61. Best pump 22 ever made, but that's only my opinion. (I do think they look like a miniature Model 12...)

 

[I6turbo]

Beautiful gun, OP. I agree with your sentiments on the old, quality blue/steel guns. They are just much more interesting to me.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Thanks guys!

Tommy - Yeah, I'll take it in the woods with me! For some reason, I'm really, really gentle on my guns, so a walk in the woods isn't much different than a day at the range.

351 - Yeah, I hear you about the barrel length. However, I've never ran across one of the 20 inch carbine versions at a condition or price that I could stomach.

Liberty - the Model 61 is the Cadillac of pump .22s for sure.

 

[Fishbed77]

Sadly, the Winchester Model 63 just is kind of forgotten, and I'm not sure why.

A lot of the Winchester .22LRs seem to be forgotten. My brother has a Model 77 inherited from my grandfather. Other than the terrible trigger (which can't really be improved) it's a finely-made rifle.

 

[Farnorthdan]

Truly a beautiful gun, I've never seen one in person but am quite smitten with other Winchester 22's. I especially like the pumps and have a few, a model 90, model 61 and a model 62. The old Winchester pumps are flat out awesome with some of the smoothest actions on earth and very accurate. They just don't make them like they use to do they....

 

[David Clark]

I have been looking for a nice one for years and never found what I wanted. A few months ago I was talking to a guy and he said he had a Taurus clone new in the box so I bought it. Not a Win. but a nice little gun. Works great and looks very good.

Dave

 

[Dave Markowitz]

That is a beautiful rifle. Congrats on the nice find.

 

[nwilliams]

Gorgeous little plinker you got there! Congrats!

 

[788Ham]

That rifle is one beautiful piece, I'd own that in a heart beat. Who ever owned it previously took immaculate care of it, as it should have been. Congrats on buying it, you did very well.

 

[tactikel]

Beautiful gun, but 1954 is old , I must be really old!!!