Well, Winchester did make a pistol, but only one, and maybe JonB is trying to tell us something there. Maybe the fact that the one model made by winchester is a single shot bolt action is significant? Or is it the fact that every one ever encountered by firearm experts is different; unique? Here is the view from LeRoy Merz, well-known and long time Winchester dealer from Minnesota:
curiouser and curiouser
Quote:“Over the last 30-35 years, I’ve probably had a total of 12 or 13 of these Winchester pistols. Every one I have had or examined has been different. The taper of the barrel, the sight, notches or grooves, the handles-whether it be walnut, brass or pot metal. The complete designs vary from heavy barrels to pencils barrels. Every one I have examined has been under serial #20. I understand that at one time, these were offered for sale to the public in both Australia and New Zealand — I have not been able to confirm that, but 3 of these guns came from New Zealand. The sides of the walnut stocks are marked: one is marked ’102′, one is ’103′ and one is ’104′. I’m not sure if this is Winchester’s marking or the marking of an importer. These pistols are very unusual and quite collectible — I wish I had kept all the ones I’ve had over the years. Some range from VG quality to a strange, very crude, poor quality for Winchester. I don’t know just what they were trying to do.”
curiouser and curiouser
