Make: Winchester

Model: 64 Deluxe “Deer Rifle”

Serial Number: 1956443

Year of Manufacture: 1953

Caliber: .32 Winchester Special

Action Type: Top Ejecting Lever Action with 2/3 Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-“, -“WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-“-, “MODEL 64 – 32 WIN. SPL.-“. The top of the barrel and the receiver chamber ring are each marked with a “WP” proof. The underside of the receiver is marked “1956443”. The lower tang in front of the the trigger is marked with “CV”.

Barrel Length: 24 ¼”

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed into a hooded, textured ramp that is fixed to the barrel. The rear sight dovetailed has been filled with a Marble blank. The left side of the receiver is drilled and tapped with a Redfield receiver sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with semi-beavertail forend, capped pistol grip, straight comb, checkered steel shotgun-style buttplate and a sling-plate mounted in the belly and another integral to the nosecap both fitted with sling rings. The stocks have light handling wear with a few scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches with finish loss primarily all around the forend where the new lacquer finish has been scraped away intermittently. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined with worn peaks. The LOP measures 13 ?” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear, mostly at the heel and toe, with light erosion around the edges and defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some intermittent and scattered pitting on the lands. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10. 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its metal finish.The balance of the finish shows operation wear. There are loading marks on the loading plate. There are a few minor scratches scattered about the metal. There is thinning on the muzzle and leading edges. There are tool marks all around the rear sight base moving toward the receiver. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions smoothly and correctly, and the trigger is crisp. This rifle has lever and half-cock hammer safeties. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 64 Rifle in .32 Winchester Special with a 24 1/4” barrel and ¾ length magazine tube. The rifle is a 64 Deer Rifle, the deluxe version with checkered stocks, capped grip and sling mounts front and rear. In about Fine overall condition, this rifle retains about 87% of its original finish, the bore is bright with sharp rifling and minor pitting on the lands. Winchester’s venerable Model 94 rifle, long a favorite of hunters and outdoorsmen, was beginning to lose sales in the early 1920’s, although the shorter barreled carbine was still popular. More people were travelling by motorcar and railroad, and Winchester thought a takedown rifle based on the Model 94 would sell well. The Model 55 was introduced in 1924, but never sold particularly well, and was discontinued in 1932 when it was superseded by the Model 64. The Model 64 was a redesign of the Model 55 with a longer magazine tube and made with a solid frame only. The Model 64 stayed in production until 1957, with a total of only 66,783 manufactured, making it one of the rarer lever action models made by Winchester. A 2nd batch of 8250 was produced in the early 1970’s, but those made before 1964 have better quality and smoothness of operation than that found on more modern Model 94’s. We expect the Winchester collectors to be very interested in this rifle, especially in such high condition and being the deluxe variant. If the collectors don’t take enough notice, this will make someone a very nice deer rifle.