Welcome, if you’re a newcomer to this enjoyable bi-weekly phase of AllOutdoor.com! We’re diving again into our ongoing exploration of the Winchester Mannequin 1911SL! In our final phase, we delved deep into the fascinating historical past of this distinctive shotgun, from its growth within the shadow of the Browning-Winchester breakup to its considerably unearned “Widowmaker” repute. Right this moment, we’re going to take a better have a look at the varied grades and variations that Winchester provided throughout the gun’s comparatively brief manufacturing run from 1911 to 1925.
Curious Relics Protection on AllOutdoor:
Welcome to our recurring sequence of “Curious Relics.” Right here, we wish to share all of our experiences, information, misadventures, and fervour for older firearms that one would possibly categorize as a Curio & Relic – any firearm that’s not less than 50 years previous in keeping with the ATF. Hopefully alongside the way in which you’ll be able to garner a higher appreciation for older firearms like we do, and concurrently you’ll be able to train us issues as effectively by sharing your individual experience and ideas within the Feedback. Understanding the firearms of previous, their significance, and their growth which result in most of the arms we now cherish in the present day is extremely fascinating and we hope you get pleasure from what now we have to share, too!
Winchester’s Tiered Strategy
Like many firearm producers of the period, Winchester provided the Mannequin 1911 SL in varied grades to attraction to totally different segments of the market. Whereas all variants shared the identical primary mechanical design (together with that distinctive barrel-charging system we mentioned extensively in Part 1), they differed considerably in aesthetics, end high quality, and value. This tiered method was frequent apply, permitting producers to supply one thing for the on a regular basis hunter whereas additionally catering to the rich sportsman who anticipated extra flourish with their perform.
The Winchester Mannequin 1911 SL was produced solely in 12 gauge, nevertheless it got here in 4 distinct grades: Plain Completed, Fancy Completed, Lure Grade, and Pigeon Grade. Let’s take a better have a look at every.
Plain Completed Mannequin 1911SL
The usual “Plain Completed” Mannequin 1911 SL was Winchester’s base providing, priced at $38.00 in 1911 (equal to roughly $1,270 in in the present day’s cash). This was their workingman’s shotgun, designed for the on a regular basis hunter who wanted perform over type.
“Winchester Mannequin 1911 Semi-Computerized Shotgun.” Rock Island Public sale Firm, https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/2075/552/winchester-model-1911-semiautomatic-shotgun. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
The Plain Completed mannequin featured:
- Easy, sturdy metallic end with out sharpening
- Plain walnut shares with out checkering
- Semi-pistol grip inventory design
- Fundamental wooden to metallic match
- No frills or particular gildings
Whereas actually not fancy, these weapons had been strong performers and represented the overwhelming majority of Mannequin 1911s produced. Right this moment, most surviving examples you’ll discover are Plain Completed fashions. Even of their primary configuration, these weapons now command respectable costs on the collector market on account of their historic significance and distinctive working mechanism.
Fancy Completed Mannequin 1911SL
For the shooter who needed a bit of extra refinement with out breaking the financial institution, Winchester provided the “Fancy Completed” model, priced at $56.00 (about $1,870 in in the present day’s forex). This mannequin was produced from 1911 to 1918, making it accessible for simply seven years of the shotgun’s fourteen-year manufacturing run.
The Fancy Completed model included:
- Higher high quality walnut wooden with nicer grain patterns
- Hand checkering on each the forend and the semi-pistol grip areas
- The identical primary configuration because the Plain mannequin
- Barely higher total match and end
- Extra polished metallic surfaces
That is truly the variant I personal, and the checkering supplies a way more constructive grip when dealing with the firearm. Whereas not drastically totally different from the Plain mannequin by way of performance, the aesthetic upgrades made it extra interesting to sportsmen who appreciated a contact of class with their subject gun.
Lure Grade Mannequin 1911SL
Transferring up the road, Winchester launched the “Lure Grade” model in 1913, which continued manufacturing till 1926. This specialised model was designed particularly for entice taking pictures competitions and commanded a value of $70.00 (roughly $2,340 in in the present day’s {dollars}).
“Ulrich Manufacturing unit Engraved Winchester 1911 Semi-Computerized Shotgun.” Rock Island Public sale Firm, https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/79/1457/ulrich-factory-engraved-winchester-1911-semiautomatic-shotgun. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
The Lure Grade featured:
- English-style straight inventory quite than the semi-pistol grip of decrease grades
- Checkering on the wrist with distinctive diamond accent sample
- Hand checkering on the forend
- Matted barrel and chosen fancy forearm and inventory
- First listed at $70.00, although value elevated through the years
The straight English-style inventory was favored by many entice shooters of the period, who felt it supplied a extra constant mounting place for the repetitive taking pictures required in competitors. The matted barrel additionally served a sensible objective by decreasing glare when taking pictures in sunny situations at clay targets in opposition to a vibrant sky.
Discovering a Lure Grade Mannequin 1911 in the present day is significantly harder than finding the Plain or Fancy variations. They had been produced in a lot smaller numbers, and their affiliation with the aggressive taking pictures neighborhood meant they usually noticed common use. I couldn’t discover any photos of 1 so I used a unique angle of the Pigeon grade as an alternative.
Pigeon Grade Mannequin 1911SL
On the prime of Winchester’s Mannequin 1911 lineup sat the distinguished “Pigeon Grade,” launched in 1912 and in addition produced till 1926. With an eye-watering price ticket of $150.00 (equal to over $5,000 oday), this was purely a luxurious merchandise meant for rich sportsmen and critical aggressive shooters.
“Ulrich Manufacturing unit Engraved Winchester 1911 Semi-Computerized Shotgun.” Rock Island Public sale Firm, https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/79/1457/ulrich-factory-engraved-winchester-1911-semiautomatic-shotgun. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
The Pigeon Grade boasted:
- In depth engraving on the receiver
- The very best high quality wooden accessible
- Comparable configuration to the Lure Grade with straight inventory
- Checkering on the wrist and forend
- Premium match and end all through
- First listed at $150.00, with value will increase in later years
“Ulrich Manufacturing unit Engraved Winchester 1911 Semi-Computerized Shotgun.” Rock Island Public sale Firm, https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/79/1457/ulrich-factory-engraved-winchester-1911-semiautomatic-shotgun. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Named for the once-popular aggressive sport of dwell pigeon taking pictures (largely changed by clay targets by this period), the Pigeon Grade represented Winchester’s highest expression of expertise utilized to the Mannequin 1911 platform. These weapons weren’t simply instruments however standing symbols, meant to be admired virtually as a lot as they had been meant to be shot. Pigeon Grade Mannequin 1911s are extraordinarily uncommon in the present day, with only a few examples surfacing on the collector market.
Finish of Half II: Mannequin 1911SL
I’ve all the time discovered it fascinating how these previous gun firms would supply mainly the identical gun in several “flavors” to attraction to totally different clients and their wallets. The Mannequin 1911 SL is an ideal instance of this advertising and marketing method. From the essential working gun to the fancy-pants engraved model, it was all the identical quirky mechanism beneath. What’s actually fascinating is that Winchester appeared to have such religion on this design that they created these premium variations regardless of its unorthodox working system. They clearly believed the gun had a future, even because the competitors from Browning’s Auto-5 and its licensed variants was consuming their lunch within the market.
In our subsequent installment, we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of relationship these Mannequin 1911 SLs and discover the aftermarket elements and equipment that had been accessible for them. Till subsequent time, maintain these previous weapons taking pictures and that historical past alive!
In closing, I hope our Curious Relics phase knowledgeable in addition to entertained. This all was written in hopes of continued firearm appreciation and preservation. We didn’t simply understand how guns had been presupposed to look and performance. It was a protracted and tedious course of that has formed the world we dwell in. So, I put it to you! Is there a firearm on the market that you simply really feel doesn’t get a lot notoriety? What ought to our subsequent Curious Relics subject cowl? As all the time, tell us all your ideas within the Feedback under! We all the time admire your suggestions.
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