Make: Winchester

Model: 55

Serial Number: 1084845

Year of Manufacture: 1932

Caliber: .32 Winchester Special

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 semi-buckhorn elevator sight with fine elevation adjustment, dovetailed to the barrel. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present). The rear sight is slightly snug in the dovetail and can be moved with some light effort. 

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, most notable on the sides of the forend. The right side of the grip has a small loss in the corner of the receiver and upper tang. There is a crack on the left side of the grip at the receiver. There are no 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 Good to 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 9/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. Most of the finish has worn to white on the edges of the receiver. The remaining finish has turned to a blackish patina with scattered corrosion and oxidation. There are some light nicks, scuffs and scratches throughout. The action shows operational wear. The bottom of the receiver may have been scrubbed where there is some trace erosion left behind. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about 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. In 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 1932, its final year of production, in the later years with a salad frame action and serialized in the Model 94 serial range. It is chambered for .32 Winchester Special cartridge which, like the .30-30 Winchester cartridge of 1895, is part of a family of cartridges developed for the 1894 which took advantage of smokeless powder for improved performance. The heavier projectiles are typically preferred for closer shots or when used in thick brush, and has been popular over the years for hunting black bear. The rifle looks like it has seen some use in the field but retains about 40% of its original metal finish, a good 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.