Winchester Model 1887/1901
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The Winchester Model 1887 and Winchester Model 1901 are a series of lever-action shotguns that were produced by Winchester Repeating Arms during the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The shotguns were originally designed by famed American gun designer and maker John Browning.
Overview
Considered the first truly successful repeating shotgun, it was in fact not the preferred choice of its designer. When Winchester asked him to produce a repeating shotgun, they specified lever-action. John Browning protested that pump-action was much more appropriate for a repeating shotgun, but Winchester was a lever-action company. To Winchester's credit, they soon introduced Browning's pump-action as the Model 1893, later modified and made as the Model 1897.Behind their identical appearance, the Model 1887 and Model 1901 are distinct from each other. The Model 1887 was designed to fire only black powder, 12-gauge and 10-gauge shotgun shells, while the Model 1901 was designed to fire smokeless powder, 10-gauge shotgun shells.
Although a technically sound gun series, the market for a lever-action shotgun waned considerably after the introduction of the Winchester 1897 pump-action shotgun. Model 1887 production totaled 64,855 and 79,455 for the 1901 before that model was discontinued in 1920.
Reproduction
Over the years, a number of gun companies have tried to produced Model 1887's for the Cowboy action shooting discipline but had little success in making a modern-production Model 1887 shotgun that can take modern, smokeless shotgun shells for the civilian firearms market, but recently, three firearm companies have successfully produced viable models.ADI Limited of Australia, produced a modern Model 1887 with the Model 1901 firing chamber and action to fire smokeless shotgun rounds. As of March 2006, production on this firearm by ADI Limited was anticipated for 2007, following several years of delays due to distribution issues. Some reengineering enhancements are due for trialling in September 2006.
Norinco of China, currently produces the Model 1887 shotgun in 12-gauge for modern smokeless shells. As of 2005, Norinco appears to be the only gun company that currently manufactures the Winchester Model 1887/Model 1901 series shotguns.
A Model 1887 copy, manufactured by the Chinese firm of CAI, has recently (June 2006) appeared for sale in Australia. As the only legal repeating shotgun (besides the unpopular and awkward Mossberg bolt-action shotguns) for non-Primary Producer firearms owners in Australia, it has so far been warmly received and the first shipments have sold out in many places.
External links
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