 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A True Circus Gallery Gun - Winchester Model 61 .22 S/L/LR - Circa 1948 – Ringling – Sparks – Cole Circuses
Guns International #: 102361979 Seller's Inventory #: GM-115
Category: Winchester Rifles - Model 61 - Winchester Collectible Firearms
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: MOB GUNS INC
Company: MOB GUNS INC
Member Since: 3/6/08
State: Florida
Country: United States
Phone: (727) 776-4506
Premium Seller
Number of Active Listings: 15
Total Number of Listings: 214
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: eCheck (Personal check sent by email) - Zelle - Certified check
Description:
*** SOLD *** This Winchester Model 61 .22 is a real circus gallery gun from the 1940-50s. The rifle is in great, original, used condition, and had been displayed as a memento for over fifty years.
This rifle has a clean, bright bore and is mechanically excellent. The furniture shows a few minor scuff marks, and what looks to be a few small white paint marks at the bottom left near the butt. There are no cracks or any repairs in the wood. The bluing shows a few minor worn areas. There is no rust nor any damage to the steel.
The take-down screw operates easily, and the two halves separate and reattach effortlessly. A true testament to the craftsmanship at Winchester of the era, and the genius of design by John Moses Browning.
A take-down, tube fed, repeating pump-action gallery rifle which can feed all three regular .22 calibers. (Short, Long & Long rifle)
This piece can be broken-down into two smaller halves for storage and transport, which was ideal when backpacking or hiking the wilderness hunting small game.
This rifle is a true-to-life circus gallery gun out of the gallery concession owner's estate. This gentleman had traveled with several circuses during his years operating the gallery, including Ringling, Sparks and Cole.
The serial number to the receiver of this rifle is 98242, the serial number to the trigger group and stock is twenty-six digits down, at 98216, which was common for a circus gallery gun. The rifles, as many as two-dozen, would be taken apart for cleaning and upon reassembly, whichever two halves were picked, were placed together.
Although these could feed .22 long and long rifle, it was more economical to purchase .22 shorts, and in the 50s, the cost to a carnival goer was five cents for ten shots. The gallery owner would purchase 30,000 rounds of .22 short at a time, enough to get him through the week.
Ten shots were loaded into brass tubes, then later plastic would replace the brass, it was lighter, and had the added benefit of being see-through.
These tubes would then be fed into the rifle’s magazine, all ten shots with a flick of the wrist, it was a quick and efficient way for the gallery operators to reload the rifle for the next patron.
The tubes measure 8", with each holding ten rounds of .22 short. These ten-shot tubes were stored upright in a used coffee can, eighty tubes to a can. After all the tubes had been emptied, the can would be replaced by a new one. This made for an excellent and simple accounting system, at a glance, the owner knew the entire days revenue.
This listing is for the Winchester 61, along with the original coffee can filled with approximately eighty tubes, still loaded with the original .22s. Approximately eight-hundred rounds.
The rifle will be shipped to your FFL, and the coffee can, and ammo must ship ground separately to your home address. The cost of shipping for both pieces is $75.00 within the Continental U.S.
The photo of the circus shooting gallery has no connection to this piece, it is just a great photo from the exact time, at a circus, showing a rifle gallery.
From left to right: Big Bill Siebrand, his brother Carl Siebrand, the owner of the gallery and the gentleman shooting is, Norman Prather. This photo is from Siebrand Bros Circus, 1949.
Manufacturer: Winchester
Model: 61
Caliber: .22 S/L/LR
Barrel: 24”
Finish: Blue
Stocks: Wood
Serial Number: 98242
Class: C&R
Price: $1,400.00
Since 1985 Proprietors in Classic Arms & Fine Restorations - Mob Guns Inc ~ Art Deco Steel ~
Visit us online at MobGuns to view our Restorations, Options, Inventory and Terms of Sale.
Call us for assistance - (877) MOB-GUNS ~ ((877) 662-4867))
Contact us by email 'Sales at MobGuns dot com'
Offers and trades of all kinds are welcome.
Shipping is $50.00, FFL to FFL within the Continental US. (Long guns & large boxes higher)
Insurance is optional at .018%.
Once the courier is in possession of the parcel, we cannot be held responsible for its safe delivery.
Payments accepted are personal check, certified bank check, either must be emailed or sent overnight.
We accept Zelle. We do not accept paypal or any money orders. Bank wire transfers incur a $35.00 fee.
We strive to ship the day after payment is received.
Bid solely based upon condition shown in the photographs and the description, as nothing else is implied nor offered.
There is no guarantee or warranty other than what is offered through the manufacturer.
We are a licensed FFL, and we will ship to your local FFL with a signed copy of their license, email and contact number.
If you do not have an FFL, we will be happy to locate one within your ZIP code.
All items sell as is and are accurately represented through our original photographs. Should you require additional information, additional photographs, we will be happy to arrange for that.
Sales are considered final, though it is our goad to provide each client with personal service and to make sure they are happy with their acquisition.
All firearms are operational unless so noted, sold as collectible artifacts, intended for display.
Should live ammo be used, it is solely the user’s responsibility to take all necessary precautions to make sure the arm is safe for use in a responsible and legal manner.
All firearms should be inspected by a qualified gunsmith. The user takes full responsibility for any use of the firearm and accepts all responsibility.
The seller cannot be held responsible for any injury, damage or death resulting from the use of any arm purchased. The owner is solely responsible for the safe-keeping, care and handling of the arm.
Please see our site for terms and conditions of sale.
Modern firearms must be transferred through a licensed FFL dealer in your area. A C&R license is acceptable for C&R firearms only (guns determined to be C&R eligible by ATF and/or guns known to be at least 50 years old).
New York Residents: Handguns cannot be shipped directly to a C&R holder in the State of New York and must be transferred through your local dealer.
Antique firearms require the buyer to supply proof of age. Some areas may require an FFL transfer for antique & black powder firearms (New Jersey, NYC, etc.)
- Props displayed within our photographs such as holsters, bullets, tools... are not included in the offering unless specifically stated, some may be available for purchase.
- Any item not shown, such as an original box, paperwork, or tools, are not available.
- No sales to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington DC, Annapolis, Maryland, NYC. We ship to California, currently. There is an additional $50.00 fee for the paperwork.
Call us for any assistance ~ (877) MOB-GUNS - (877) 662-4867 or write ~ Sales at MOBGUNS dotcom
Visit us at - MOBGUNS dotcom
Thank you for taking the time to view our listings.
Milio Design ~ Mob Guns Inc
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Rifle Caliber: .22 Long Rifle, .22 Short, .22 Long