Welcome to at present’s Photo of the Day! Right here we’ve a Winchester 1900/1902 prototype single shot bolt motion pistol from the early 1900s. Winchester made a restricted variety of these prototypes utilizing the 1900/1902 rifle as the inspiration, making a easy strong plinker for the market.
The design makes use of a purpose-made tubular receiver and barrel meeting mated to a pistol grip meeting. Identified examples have been made in a number of configurations and numerous supplies. This instance options brass grip body with clean grip panels, mounted blade entrance and dovetail notch rear sights, and manually cocked hammer. No seen markings seem on the one-piece receiver and barrel.
Full manufacturing by no means began. Madis suggests in “Winchester Guide” that Winchester tried advertising the pistol in Australia round 1919, however this didn’t succeed. The explanations for abandoning the design stay unclear – probably market indifference, manufacturing prices, or competitors from established pistol makers.
Winchester had success with their single shot rifles, so extending the idea to a pistol format made logical sense. The bolt-action mechanism was easy, dependable, and cheap to supply. A .22 caliber bolt-action pistol might have discovered a market amongst goal shooters and outdoorsmen wanting one thing extra correct than revolvers for plinking. The prototype exhibits Winchester’s willingness to experiment with new product classes, even when this explicit idea by no means reached customers.
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“Winchester 1900/1902 Prototype Single Shot Bolt Motion Pistol.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/4096/3041/winchester-19001902-prototype-single-shot-bolt-action-pistol. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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Author | TheFirearmBlog Instagram | sfsgunsmith Previous soul, licensed gunsmith, revealed creator, avid firearm historical past learner, and appreciator of outdated and distinctive weapons.
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