Make: Winchester
Model: 53
Serial Number: 1062
Year of Manufacture: 1924 / C&R
Caliber: 25-20 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action with Tubular "Button" Magazine, Solid Frame
Barrel Length: 22"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a white beaded blade, dovetailed to a dual sided ramped base, fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight wrist, straight comb and serrated steel shotgun-style buttplate. The stocks have some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There a casing head inlaid in the belly of the buttstock. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has been refinished. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its current metal finish. The balance of the finish is fairly strong throughout. There are scattered handling marks and scratches throughout. There is intermittent oxidation. There are a few pits on the receiver under the new finish. The action shows light operational wear post refinish. There is thinning on the muzzle. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Very Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: Introduced in 1924, the Winchester Model 53 was a refined, sporting-oriented continuation of John M. Browning’s compact Model 1892 action. Winchester paired the familiar vertical-locking-block mechanism with a streamlined 22-inch barrel, short “button” magazine, and shotgun-style buttplate, producing a lighter and more modern-looking rifle than the traditional full-magazine Model 1892. The .25-20 W.C.F. chambering was well suited to small game, varmints, and general ranch use, and serial number 1062 falls within the documented first-year Model 53 serial range.
This first-year rifle retains about 95% of its current refinished blue finish, with scattered handling marks, intermittent oxidation, limited underlying pitting, and light operational wear since refinishing. Its smooth walnut stocks remain in Very Good condition without chips or cracks, the bright bore has sharp rifling and rates 9/10, and the action functions correctly with smooth operation and proper lockup. Although refinished, its low four-digit serial number, first-year production status, desirable .25-20 chambering, and classic button-magazine configuration preserve considerable interest for the Winchester collector seeking an attractive representative Model 53.
