Make: Winchester

Model: 1906 Expert Grade

Serial Number: 533181

Year of Manufacture: 1918 / ATF Classification: C&R

Caliber/Gauge: .22 Short, Long, & Long Rifle

Action Type: Pump-Action (Slide-Action) Rifle, Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 20"

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable elevation U-notch screwed into the barrel.

Grip/Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are wood, the buttstock has a straight comb, semi-pistol grip, and checkered hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear mainly on the edges. The furniture shows scattered pressure dings, scuffs, and scratches mostly located on the buttstock. Most notable is a very small crack starting at the lower tang and some heavy wear at the top of the stock where it meets the buttplate. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There are no chips. This furniture rates in Good-Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is grey and the rifling is worn. There is moderate erosion throughout the bore with spots of oxidation. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The barrel finish shows some thinning along with a few scuffs and scratches. The magazine tube shows operational wear and has also turned mostly to patina. The receiver finish shows thinning, edge wear, and scattered scratches in the finish. The screw heads show very faint signs of tooling and retain strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.

Mechanics: The hammer falls from the safety notch if the trigger is pressed. The action otherwise 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: None

Our Assessment: A refined, early-20th-century slide-action rimfire, the Expert Grade variant of the Winchester 1906 elevates the already beloved pump-action platform with enhanced wood, finer stock shaping, and a more polished overall presentation. The compact 20" barrel keeps the rifle lively and quick to shoulder, while the exposed action bar, tubular magazine, and takedown receiver give it the smooth mechanical rhythm and practical utility that made these rifles fixtures in farms, workshops, and shooting galleries across America. The enhanced stock contours and finish lend this example a touch of elegance uncommon among typical utility-grade 1906 rifles.

As a 1918 production rifle, this Model 1906 Expert Grade comes from the closing year of World War I, during a time when Winchester balanced military contracts with continued domestic demand for small-bore sporting rifles. The 1906's ability to chamber .22 Short, Long, and Long Rifle made it exceptionally versatile during an era when ammunition availability varied widely. Expert Grade examples, with their contoured wood and refined craftsmanship, appealed to shooters who wanted a more distinguished version of Winchester's most practical pump-action rimfire, a combination of rugged working heritage and early 20th-century sporting elegance.

Lannigan Collection