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 improvement within the shadow of the Browning-Winchester breakup to its considerably unearned “Widowmaker” repute. In the present day, we’re going to take a more in-depth take a look at the varied grades and variations that Winchester supplied through the gun’s comparatively quick manufacturing run from 1911 to 1925.
Curious Relics Protection on AllOutdoor:
Welcome to our recurring collection 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 at the very least 50 years previous in response to the ATF. Hopefully alongside the way in which you may garner a higher appreciation for older firearms like we do, and concurrently you may train us issues as effectively by sharing your individual experience and ideas within the Feedback. Understanding the firearms of previous, their significance, and their improvement which result in most of the arms we now cherish right this moment is extremely fascinating and we hope you get pleasure from what we’ve to share, too!
Winchester’s Tiered Strategy
Like many firearm producers of the period, Winchester supplied the Mannequin 1911 SL in numerous grades to attraction to completely different segments of the market. Whereas all variants shared the identical fundamental 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 follow, 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, however it got here in 4 distinct grades: Plain Completed, Fancy Completed, Lure Grade, and Pigeon Grade. Let’s take a more in-depth take 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 right this moment’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-Automated 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
- Primary wooden to metallic match
- No frills or particular gildings
Whereas actually not fancy, these weapons had been stable performers and represented the overwhelming majority of Mannequin 1911s produced. In the present day, most surviving examples you’ll discover are Plain Completed fashions. Even of their fundamental configuration, these weapons now command respectable costs on the collector market as a consequence of their historic significance and distinctive working mechanism.
Fancy Completed Mannequin 1911SL
For the shooter who wished a little bit extra refinement with out breaking the financial institution, Winchester supplied the “Fancy Completed” model, priced at $56.00 (about $1,870 in right this moment’s foreign money). This mannequin was produced from 1911 to 1918, making it obtainable 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 fundamental configuration because the Plain mannequin
- Barely higher general match and end
- Extra polished metallic surfaces
That is really the variant I personal, and the checkering offers a way more constructive grip when dealing with the firearm. Whereas not drastically completely 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 discipline gun.
Lure Grade Mannequin 1911SL
Shifting up the road, Winchester launched the “Lure Grade” model in 1913, which continued manufacturing till 1926. This specialised model was designed particularly for lure capturing competitions and commanded a value of $70.00 (roughly $2,340 in right this moment’s {dollars}).
“Ulrich Manufacturing facility Engraved Winchester 1911 Semi-Automated 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 moderately 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 lure shooters of the period, who felt it offered a extra constant mounting place for the repetitive capturing required in competitors. The matted barrel additionally served a sensible function by lowering glare when capturing in sunny situations at clay targets in opposition to a vibrant sky.
Discovering a Lure Grade Mannequin 1911 right this moment is significantly tougher than finding the Plain or Fancy variations. They had been produced in a lot smaller numbers, and their affiliation with the aggressive capturing group meant they usually noticed common use. I couldn’t discover any footage of 1 so I used a unique angle of the Pigeon grade as a substitute.
Pigeon Grade Mannequin 1911SL
On the prime of Winchester’s Mannequin 1911 lineup sat the distinguished “Pigeon Grade,” launched in 1912 and likewise 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 severe aggressive shooters.
“Ulrich Manufacturing facility Engraved Winchester 1911 Semi-Automated 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:
- Intensive engraving on the receiver
- The very best high quality wooden obtainable
- 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 facility Engraved Winchester 1911 Semi-Automated 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 stay pigeon capturing (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 nearly as a lot as they had been meant to be shot. Pigeon Grade Mannequin 1911s are extraordinarily uncommon right this moment, 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 principally the identical gun in several “flavors” to attraction to completely 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 obtainable for them. Till subsequent time, maintain these previous weapons capturing 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 notice how guns had been presupposed to look and performance. It was a protracted and tedious course of that has formed the world we stay 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 matter cowl? As all the time, tell us your entire ideas within the Feedback under! We all the time admire your suggestions.
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