Make: Winchester

Model: 55

Serial Number: 1074028

Year of Manufacture: 1929

Caliber: .30-30 Winchester Center Fire (.30-30 W.C.F.)

Action Type: Lever Action, Tube Magazine Fed Solid Frame Rifle

Barrel Length: 24”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman brass beaded blade dovetailed to a base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a u-notch flat top elevator sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and serrated steel buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, scrapes and scratches along with scattered finish loss. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly gone to a deep patina with some scattered light oxidation and well defined serrations. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no notable erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The action shows operational wear. There is more prominent finish loss on the receiver which has introduced some discoloration. The screw heads are sharp with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions properly. This rifle has a half-cock safety and its lever safety functions properly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: By the early 1920’s, Winchester’s Model 94 rifle was losing sales, and in 1924 Winchester introduced an updated version of the Model 94 rifle dubbed the Model 55. The Winchester Model 55 was a rifle with a 24-inch barrel, a half-magazine that held three cartridges and was a takedown rifle which was convenient for storage and transport. It was initially chambered only in .30-30 Win., but .25-35 Win. and .32 Win. Spl. were added in 1926.

For the first few years, the Model 55 carried its own set of serial numbers. Around 1930, Winchester started producing Models 55 with a solid frame, using Model 94 receivers and serialized in the established Model 94 range. In 1932, with approximately 20,500 guns made, the Model 55 was discontinued to make way for the Winchester Model 64. 82% of the Model 55s were made with Takedown receivers so the Solid Frame variants are considerably more rare.

This rifle was made in 1929, three years before its final year of production, in the later years with a solid frame action and serialized in the Model 94 serial range. It is chambered for the .30-30 W.C.F. cartridge which is part of a family of cartridges developed for the 1894 which took advantage of smokeless powder for improved performance. The rifle looks like it has seen some use in the field but retains about 85% of its original metal finish, a fantastic bore and strong mechanics. This should still make for a good hunting rifle, but will also be a nice addition to a Winchester collection missing the Model 55.