The Winchester Model 1907 is a blowback-operated, semi-automatic rifle produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company beginning in 1906 with production ending in 1958. It fired a cartridge of intermediate power, cycled through a semi-automatic operating mechanism, fed from a 5, 10, or 15 round detachable box magazine located immediately forward of the trigger guard. In size and handling, it is much like an M1 carbine, though the 1907 is heavier and fires a much harder hitting round. The only cartridge offered by Winchester as a factory chambering in the Model 1907 was the.351SL centerfire. The energy of this cartridge at the muzzle approximates the original loading of the 30-30 or the modern 35 Remington at approximately 75-100 yards.
Variants
In addition to the standard or "plain finish" model, a deluxe or "fancy finish" model was offered with pistol gripstock and checkering on the forearm and wrist of the stock. The plain finish rifles were offered in 1907 at a list price of $28. In 1935, Winchester offered a special "police rifle" variant, featuring a non-adjustable rear sight, sling swivels, a larger magazine release, a special barrel measuring 5/8" at the muzzle, and the rear sight dovetail moved 2 3/8" inches rearward. A barrel sleeve with Kragbayonet mount and front sight was also an option with the "police rifle". During World War I, the French Army ordered 2,800 rifles which they then modified for fully automatic fire and doubled the magazine size in 1917. In the late 1930s, the 1907 was updated by Winchester with a much thicker fore-end and stock. The newer model also had a redesigned charging handle which made it easier to lock the bolt back.
Patents
The basic design for the Model 1907 is covered by issued August 27, 1901, and assigned to Winchester by Thomas Crossley Johnson, a key firearms designer for Winchester. This patent was initially used to protect the design of the rimfireWinchester Model 1903, but came to be applied toward the centerfire Winchester Self Loading rifle series, which includes the Model 1905, Model 1907, and Model 1910.
The government initially ordered 300 Model 1907 rifles in October 1915 from Winchester, soon followed by an order for 2,500 more rifles. Ammunition orders for these rifles exceeded 1.5 million cartridges of.351SL before 1917. Subsequent orders in 1917 and 1918 totaled 2,200 Model 1907 rifles. According to factory records, these rifles were modified for fully automatic fire and fitted with Lee-Navy rifle bayonets. These rifles were designated by the name of Winchester Model 1907/17, they used either a 15-round magazine or 20-round magazine and fired from 600 to 700 rounds per minute.
Great Britain
According to a November 1, 1916 Winchester internal report, Great Britain's London Armory was sent 120 Model 1907 rifles and 78,000 rounds of.351SL ammunition between December 1914 and April 1916 for use by the Royal Flying Corps. These rifles were specially modified for aerial use and intended to arm airplane observers.
Russia
The Imperial Russian government is recorded by Winchester as purchasing 500 Model 1907 rifles and 1.5 million rounds of.351SL ammunition through the J.P. Morgan Company in May 1916.
USA
According to factory records, the 1st Aero Squadron of the U.S. Army Signal Corps Air Service was shipped 19 Model 1907 rifles and 9000 cartridges of.351SL ammunition. The 1st Aero Squadron's shipment was sent to Columbus, New Mexico and was presumably used in arming their aircraft while in support of General Pershing's Punitive Expedition.
Law enforcement
The Model 1907 was a popular rifle with law enforcement in the United States during much of its production - especially in the 1930s when the police in the United States were upgrading their firearms due to the increase in crime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation acquired some Model 1907 rifles in response to the 1933 Kansas City Massacre. It was used by Patrol Inspectors of the U.S. Border Patrol during the late 1920s into the 1930s.
