1947 mfr. WINCHESTER Model 74 .22 LR 14-Shot SEMI-AUTO Rifle C&R Some Used by GREAT BRITAIN During WORLD WAR II

Description:
1947 mfr. WINCHESTER Model 74 .22 LR 14-Shot SEMI-AUTO Rifle C&R 

Some Used by GREAT BRITAIN During WORLD WAR II

Here Ancestry Guns present a C&R Winchester Model 74 semi-automatic rifle manufactured in 1947 in New Haven, Connecticut. Introduced in 1939, the Winchester Model 74 is a self-loading rimfire rifle. The tubular receiver houses a simple blowback-operated bolt and is fed by a tubular magazine housed in the buttstock. During its first year of production, the Model 74 was available only in .22 Short. In 1940, a .22 Long Rifle version was added. The “Short” was discontinued in 1952, and the entire line was dropped from production in 1955.

At the onset of World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill was certainly the right man in the right place at a critical time for Great Britain. Churchill truly stepped into an extremely tumultuous situation, and when the German forces occupied France just across the English Channel, he knew that a possible invasion of Great Britain was imminent. When he made his public “never give in” speech, he meant every word of it. One of the most important plans Churchill put in place was establishing auxiliary units in the newly formed British Resistance Organization. These were special forces that were trained to do guerrilla warfare in the event that the Germans landed on British shores and attacked inland, and their primary goal entailed harassment and sabotage. Each British coastal county had a 500-man Auxiliary Unit (AU) in place and waiting to do its duty. This wouldn't be a head-on conflict, which would have been suicide for such small forces, but would instead be of a purely clandestine nature.

Thanks to the “Lend and Lease” agreement Great Britain had with the United States, the “AU” forces were issued a special firearm that will likely surprise most people. It was the Winchester Model 74 semi-automatic rifle, chambered in a .22 long rifle. Over 600 Model 74 rifles were equipped with telescopic sights and silencers for special duty as an actual sniper’s rifle. This was for eliminating enemy officers, sentries, including guard-dogs, and also for silent hunting when needed. These guns made little more than a “click” when firing a shell. Because of the effectiveness of the British fighter pilots during the Battle of Britain, the German ground forces never crossed the English Channel and invaded Great Britain, so the Winchester Model 74 never saw action as an actual battle rifle.

Unlike most vintage semi-automatic rimfire rifles, the Model 74 allows the bolt to be removed from the rear of the receiver, enabling easy maintenance and allowing the bore to be cleaned from the rear. These are distinctive aesthetically as a result.

The overall condition is fine. Original blue finish. The action is excellent. The bore is shiny bright with sharp rifling. The stock is smooth and solid.

Own the original! This firearm is classified as a Curio and Relic.

Barrel is 22 inches.

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING. Will need to be sent to your local FFL or C&R Licensee. This firearm is classified as a Curio and Relic.
Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

$1100

#259892
 

Curio/Relic: Yes

Price: $1,100.00
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