The Winchester Model 61 remains one of the most popular Winchester .22 caliber rifles and is regarded by many Winchester collectors as one of the company's most attractive pre-World War II designs. This rifle is serial number 16, among the first of these rifles to come off the line in 1932 before the design was even patented! It was designed to update Winchester's line of .22 caliber slide action rifles with a sleeker hammerless design that could compete with the popular hammerless rifles of Remington, Savage, and others during the Great Depression but carried a rather hefty price tag for the time: $24.65 (about $450 adjusted for inflation). It was specifically meant as a man's rifle rather than a boy's rifle like many .22s, and production finally ended in 1963. The Model 61 was designed initially by Harry L. Crockett of Winchester's Research & Development Department in the early 1920s and improved by Crockett and Frank F. Burton before release in 1932 in part to avoid infringing on Browning's patents. The design's patent was not filed until January 13, 1933, and was not granted until March 19, 1935. The Model 61 remains among the most popular of all of Winchester's beloved .22 slide action repeating rifles and can be found in multiple configurations. The rifle has standard markings including Winchester factory proofs. Lyman combination front, elevation adjustable rear, and tang mounted peep sights. 11-groove forearm and pistol grip stock with checkered buttplate. Barrel marked "22 S.L. or L.R."

Excellent, retains 90% plus original blue finish with moderate edge/cycling wear and a few scattered light handling marks. The wood retains almost all of the varnish and has some scattered light handling marks. Mechanically excellent. Other than serial number 1, which we sold in our September 2020 Premier Firearms Auction No. 80, this is the second lowest serial number Model 61 RIAC has ever had the pleasure of offering for auction.