Make: Winchester

Model: 75 Target

Serial Number: 2131

Year of Manufacture: 1939 / ATF Classification: C&R

Caliber/Gauge: .22 Long Rifle

Action Type: Bolt action, magazine fed

Barrel Length: 28"

Sights/Optics: The front and rear sights have been removed. There is a Weaver B6 6x scope with crosshair reticle mounted atop the barrel and receiver with Weaver rings. The front dovetail is empty, there are two filled taps just behind the barrel band. There are also two unfilled taps forward and behind the front scope ring base. The scope glass is fairly clear but could use a good cleaning.

Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The furniture is a one piece wood with a straight comb, pistol grip, semi-beavertail forend, and a checkered metal buttplate. There is a six-position accessory rail inlet to the forend with a sling swivel installed and there is a sling plate inlet to the belly. The buttplate shows light wear and some surface oxidation. The furniture shows moderate wear with scattered pressure dings, scuffs, and scratches. The LOP measures 13.25" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are no chips or cracks. This furniture rates in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp with light fouling. There are spots of light surface oxidation at the muzzle end of the bore. The bore rates 9 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning in various spots, showing patina and freckling scattered throughout. The rifle shows moderate handling and operational wear. The markings are clear and complete. The screw heads range are lightly tooled and retain turnable slots. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Scope, 1 magazine.

Our Assessment: This early prewar Winchester Model 75 Target, serial number 2131, was manufactured in 1939 and reflects Winchester rimfire production at its pre World War II height. Introduced in the late 1930s, the Model 75 was engineered as a dedicated smallbore target rifle, emphasizing balance, consistency, and precision for formal competition. Prewar examples are especially respected for their machining quality and finish work, produced before wartime demands reshaped American firearms manufacturing.

Chambered in .22 Long Rifle with a 28" barrel, this rifle was purpose-built for target shooting, where barrel length and uniformity contributed to steady velocity and excellent accuracy potential. The rifle is fitted with a Weaver B6 scope, a fixed-power optic widely favored by competitive shooters of the era. The .22 LR cartridge had already become the standard for organized target competition by this time, valued for its precision and mild recoil. The bore rates a solid 9 out of 10, and the action functions correctly.

Approximately 75% of the original blued finish remains, showing honest wear consistent with a rifle that likely spent time on the firing line rather than in long-term storage. Markings remain clear, and overall presentation reflects careful use over decades. As a prewar Winchester Model 75 Target with a correct vintage Weaver optic, this rifle stands as an authentic example of American smallbore target rifle craftsmanship on the eve of World War II.