This has been a hard month for Model 61 collectors looking for high condition and unique chamber and barrel configurations. I have identified 3 rifles in just this month which started out their life as standard round barrel short, long, and long rifle chambers. Then they mysteriously show up with either round barrel LR Shot Only or octagon barrel rifles in later auction or website offerings. So, in an effort to help out the collecting community of these cool little guns I have decided to start a list of the known serial numbers that have been altered. These are rifles which have been deliberately altered, most commonly by swapping or replacing barrels to make what was a standard rifle into a single chamber alternative.** This list DOES NOT* include the many many rifles which have been refinished or had wood sanded and refinished. Keep this post archived and when you see something "to good to be true" you just might want to take a look here. I will update this as I dig through all my data and spread sheet info. If anyone has any suggestion or further input I am more than happy to hear it.
Thanks. Michael
For starters:
1331 Added 16 October 2018 Yet another faked Model 61 on Guns International | Winchester .22 Rim Fire | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
4146
9316 Added 25 Sept 2019 Restored Model 61 at Montrose Sept 2019 #1272 | Winchester .22 Rim Fire | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector 9751 Added 28 November 2019 https:...forums/showthread.php?p=11070135#post11070135
61553 Added 28 November 2019 Grove Model 61's
63529 Added 2 Aug 2018 Fake Model 61 Short Only on Guns Int. | Winchester .22 Rim Fire | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
67623
77275 Added 30 Nov 2018 Read the description VERY carefully RIA Dec 2017 Lot 364 Left side WINCHESTER label is "custom"
80472 Added 30 Nov 2018 Not proven but "highly suspect" Offered on Gunbroker.com out of Henryetta, OK by the same seller who has sold proven fakes owned by Charles Key.
83093 Barrel switched from standard to Short Only and Rec engraved WINCHESTER with gallery loading port. Added 1 Oct 2018
94890 Altered from standard rifle to Short Only and “WINCHESTER” engraved gallery port. Sold by “Wolf84” in Franklin, IN Added Nov 2022
95787
96981 Altered from standard rifle to Short Only and “WINCHESTER” engraved gallery port. Sold by “Wolf84” in Franklin, IN Added Nov 2022
98030
105256 Standard rifle faked as LR Shot Only Fake Model 61 Shot Only On GI
128172 Standard rifle faked as Shot Only w/ box by Steve Barnett. $6500 6 June 2018
128982 Not "Proven" but HIGHLY suspect.
129280 And Yet ANOTHER Fake Model 61
140091 Barrel switched from LR to LR Shot Only. Previously listed at Mike Bishop now at RIA Added Aug 23 2018
154400 Barrel switched from standard to Short Only. Originally sold on GB out of Christiansburg, VA. Now listed on GB out of "Winchester Guns" in Jamestown, CA. The guy who always has fake boxes.
154602 Added Oct 4 2019 Originally sold out of Remlap, AL on Gunbroker as a standard rifle. Purchased in Nov 2013 at Tulsa from CH Key as a RB Long Rifle only. Yet ANOTHER CH Key related fake.
161484 Not "Proven" but HIGHLY suspect
161680
282663
300626 Added 16 April 2018
Thanks. Michael
For starters:
1331 Added 16 October 2018 Yet another faked Model 61 on Guns International | Winchester .22 Rim Fire | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
4146
9316 Added 25 Sept 2019 Restored Model 61 at Montrose Sept 2019 #1272 | Winchester .22 Rim Fire | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector 9751 Added 28 November 2019 https:...forums/showthread.php?p=11070135#post11070135
61553 Added 28 November 2019 Grove Model 61's
63529 Added 2 Aug 2018 Fake Model 61 Short Only on Guns Int. | Winchester .22 Rim Fire | Forum | Winchester CollectorWinchester Collector
67623
77275 Added 30 Nov 2018 Read the description VERY carefully RIA Dec 2017 Lot 364 Left side WINCHESTER label is "custom"
80472 Added 30 Nov 2018 Not proven but "highly suspect" Offered on Gunbroker.com out of Henryetta, OK by the same seller who has sold proven fakes owned by Charles Key.
83093 Barrel switched from standard to Short Only and Rec engraved WINCHESTER with gallery loading port. Added 1 Oct 2018
94890 Altered from standard rifle to Short Only and “WINCHESTER” engraved gallery port. Sold by “Wolf84” in Franklin, IN Added Nov 2022
95787
96981 Altered from standard rifle to Short Only and “WINCHESTER” engraved gallery port. Sold by “Wolf84” in Franklin, IN Added Nov 2022
98030
105256 Standard rifle faked as LR Shot Only Fake Model 61 Shot Only On GI
128172 Standard rifle faked as Shot Only w/ box by Steve Barnett. $6500 6 June 2018
128982 Not "Proven" but HIGHLY suspect.
129280 And Yet ANOTHER Fake Model 61
140091 Barrel switched from LR to LR Shot Only. Previously listed at Mike Bishop now at RIA Added Aug 23 2018
154400 Barrel switched from standard to Short Only. Originally sold on GB out of Christiansburg, VA. Now listed on GB out of "Winchester Guns" in Jamestown, CA. The guy who always has fake boxes.
154602 Added Oct 4 2019 Originally sold out of Remlap, AL on Gunbroker as a standard rifle. Purchased in Nov 2013 at Tulsa from CH Key as a RB Long Rifle only. Yet ANOTHER CH Key related fake.
161484 Not "Proven" but HIGHLY suspect
161680
282663
300626 Added 16 April 2018