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Winchester Model 1905
Winchester Self Loading Mod 05
Type Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin Flag of the United States United States
Production history
Designer T.C. Johnson
Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company
Produced 1905 to 1920
No. built 29,113
Variants "Plain" and "Fancy Finish" Rifles
Specifications
Mass 7 lb (3.2 kg) to 8 lb (3.6 kg)
Length 40 in (1,000 mm)
Barrel length 22 in (560 mm)

Cartridge .32SL and .35SL
Action Blowback
Rate of fire Semi-automatic
Feed system Detachable 5 and 10-round box magazines
Sights Open iron sights and optional tang or receiver-mounted aperture sights

The Winchester Model 1905 (also known as the Model 05), is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company beginning in 1905 and discontinued in 1920. This rifle loads cartridges from a 5 or 10-round capacity, detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard. Winchester offered factory chamberings in .32SL and .35 Winchester Self-Loading (.35 WSL).[1]

Notably, a Model 1905 in .35 WSL was used by Harry Payne Whitney on an arctic expedition. The rifle proved reliable in extreme low-temperatures, yet insufficiently powerful enough for taking of large game such as musk ox.[2]

The basic design for the Winchester Model 1905 is covered by U.S. Patent 681,481 issued August 27, 1901 and assigned to Winchester by Thomas Crossley Johnson, a key firearms designer for Winchester. This patent was initially used to protect the design of the rimfire Winchester Model 1903, but came to be applied toward the centerfire Winchester Self Loading rifle series, which includes the Model 1905, Model 1907 and Model 1910.[3]

Variants[]

In addition to the standard or "plain finish" model, a deluxe or "fancy finish" model was offered with pistol grip stock and checkering on the forearm and wrist of the stock. The plain finish rifles were offered in 1905 at a list price of $28, the fancy finish rifles for $43.[4]

References[]

  1. West, Bill R. (1964) Winchester For Over a Century Stockton Trade Press, p. III-3
  2. Stebbins, Henry M. (1952) How to Select and Use Your Big Game Rifle Combat Forces Press, p. 82
  3. US Patent Number 681481: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?patentnumber=681481
  4. Winchester Repeating Arms Company 1905 Guns Catalog Reproduction by Cornell Military Publications. Brighton, MI 48114

External links[]

The Vintage Semi-Automatic Sporting Rifles Forum - Winchester Model 1905 - http://vintagesemiautorifle.proboards105.com/index.cgi?board=win05

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