1906 winchester 22 cal.

Question
HI, DOUG.  IF POSSIBLE CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT MY 1906 WINCHESTER 22. IT WAS COMPLETELY NICKLE PLATED. MY SON WANTED TO SURPRISE ME AND HAVE IT RESTORED. THE GUNSMITH TOLD HIM THAT SOMEONE HAD IT NICKLE PLATED AT ONE TIME.THEY DON'T COME THAT WAY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS A RODEO GUN. I THINK THE GUNSMITH SWITCHED GUNS DURING THE RESTORATION.  THE SERIAL# 538727          
         B
HE SAID HE WILL THE NICKLE PLATE AND BLUE IT.
WOULD THE # TELL US IF THIS GUN WAS MINE? THE GUN IS NOW BLUED .
I WOULD THINK THAT WHEN WINCHESTER WAS GOING TO NICKLE PLATE
A GUN, THEY WOULD MAKE THE TOLERANCE FOR IT.  HOPE THAT YOU CAN ANSWER MY QUESTION.   THANKS,  RICHIE.  FL.

Answer
Richard,

The Winchester Model 1906 came in a 'standard' and 'expert' version.  The expert had a pistol grip stock and a different shaped slide handle than the standard model.  It came in three finish choices:  blued; with a nickel trimmed receiver, guard and bolt; and full nickel trimmed.  The experts were manufactured between 1917 and 1925.

Just a couple of comments on the rest of your question.  First, having it restored was not necessarily a great idea.  Collectors would only be interested in the gun if it was in original condition and with no modifications.  If the gunsmith just 'cleaned it up' then there would be no problem, but if he changed out parts or put a new stock on, that would be undesirable.  Second, just because someone is a gunsmith doesn't mean that he is completely familiar with the different configurations.  He may not be all that knowledgable about these guns.

Your serial number is for a Model 1906 manufactured in early 1919 which would be consistent with when these guns were produced.

I sure hope the gunsmith did not blue your gun...I couldn't quite tell from what your email said...

Hope this helps you out...

Doug