Make: Winchester

Model: 63

Serial Number: 81420A

Year of Manufacture: 1949 / ATF Classification: C&R

Caliber/Gauge: .22 Long Rifle

Action Type: Semi Automatic, Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 23"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded post dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable elevation u-notch dovetailed into the barrel.

Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The furniture is two piece wood with a straight comb, semi-pistol grip, smooth forend, and a checkered metal buttplate. The buttplate shows no wear. The furniture shows no notable wear. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13.25" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. This furniture rates in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

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 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its original finish. The finish shows only faint marks from storage in the box over the years. The screw heads are unmarred and retain turnable slots. The markings are clear and complete. Overall, this rifle rates in Fine Plus 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: Model-matching box, vintage instruction manual, and Winchester "10 Commandments Of Safety" pamphlet. The serial number on the label is no longer legible due to wear.

Our Assessment: This Winchester Model 63, serial number 81420A, was manufactured in 1949 and represents the mature postwar production of Winchester's classic semi-automatic rimfire rifle. Introduced in 1933 as the successor to the Model 1903, the Model 63 was designed around the increasingly popular .22 Long Rifle cartridge and quickly became known for its reliability, smooth cycling, and excellent field accuracy. By the late 1940s, Winchester had refined the model into a well-balanced sporting rifle equally at home in the field or on the range.

Chambered in .22 Long Rifle with a 23" barrel, the Model 63 was built as a lightweight and handy semi-automatic suitable for small game hunting and recreational shooting. The .22 LR cartridge had firmly established itself as America's dominant rimfire round by this period, valued for its economy, mild recoil, and versatility. The bore rates a perfect 10 out of 10, and the action functions correctly, reflecting outstanding internal condition.

Approximately 98% of the original bluing remains, with matching numbered parts supporting its originality and overall integrity. Finish retention and sharp markings suggest more time in the included box than out, though the label is too worn to confirm its serial marking. As a high-condition 1949 Winchester Model 63, this rifle stands as an excellent example of postwar American rimfire craftsmanship from one of the most respected names in firearms history.