I truly have no need for any new firearms.  Pretty much anything I need to do for work or play is already met.  I do however like going to gun shows and looking for steals not deals.  Last week I found such a steal.  It walked in with an elderly ( even to me ) gentleman and looked sad and neglected.  It was covered with rust that looked surface, but I really couldn't tell if there was pitting in some parts.  I offered $50, he countered with $70, and done.

A Winchester model 69a.  



I took the action out of the stock and sprayed it down with clenzoil in and out.  I let it sit for 6 hours.  After a wipe down, all of the rust was gone, no pitting and the crud came out of the bore to reveal good strong rifling.  The action is buttery smooth.  I have never found a shot out .22, but plenty with leading and crud in the barrel leading the uninitiated to think it is shot out.

This was a well loved and well used rifle that based on features, I dated to between 1936 and 1940.  These rifles are pre serial number.  It also had two original magazines also in good working order.  Note that there are no sling swivels, this was a walking around hunter/plinker.  85ish years old, all original and it still works fine.  

I wonder if my RPR will make it through generations?  The old fellow said he was selling it because his kids have no interest in blue and walnut, and he didn't want to burden his wife with selling guns when the time came. He said it was his fathers rifle, he learned to shoot on it and killed many squirells and rabbits with it as a boy.  I think I'm going out back to shoot it today.

Pretty good.  Not match grade like you'd find on a mod 75, but certainly better than any modern off the shelf .22 plinker.  Extraction and ejection is also solid.  These use the same action as the 75 and 52D with dual extractors. The pre war 69a had no dovetails for scope mounting, so Iron sights it is. My understanding is that dovetails were added when production resumed after the war.

30 yds, off hand standing, Aguila super extra bulk pack.  Not bad for a 59 yr old guy with bifocal contacts and open sight. I'll drift the rear sight a touch left.

Yeah, based on gunbroker sales, I gotta put the value of this in the $350 ish range. Note that I simply cleaned it, not refinished. These were well made guns built to last generations, when American craftsman built nice things.

I had a Remington 33 that I picked up at a garage sale. Traded it for a 10/22 for my grandson. The gut learned to shoot on a 33 and it had sentimental value to him.

Truelock chokes had a new manufactured model 67 at SHOT Show. They were across the aisle from me.

The metalwork was superb.

You’re right.

I used to have a 69 so it was a brain cramp.

The local shop has an original 67 for $200, and a 75 for $500.

The 69a was intended to fall between those two in the product line.