The information in The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1980 is wildly off on the Model 53, probably thanks to George Madis' information on that rifle. The actual numbers look like they were somewhere between 13,000 and 15,000. Madis is the source for most of the info on the Model 53 out there, and when it comes to the Model 53, he is pretty much completely wrong, so much so, that it appears that he simply fabricated most of the information on the Model 53. He is also terribly off on some of his other models as well, so I would fully expect that his Model 55 numbers are completely wrong. On a related note, the actual Model 65 production seems to have been several thousand more than his numbers. I am primarily researching the Model 53, but am also working on the Model 65 and the late model 92's (serial numbers greater than 962,000). I am aiming to publish an article in the WACA journal sometime early 2011 on the Model 53. Winchester collectors will find it a real eye-opener. A major help in this research has been the polishing room records for the Models 53 and late model 92/65's. I also have a copy of the polishing room records for the Model 55 for those that were numbered within their own serial number range, as well as a database of surviving Model 55's. However, I do not have the freedom to pass on any information from those sources, so I cannot really say anything specific about what I'm seeing there. (although I can certainly give you the exact day your particular Model 55 (when you get one) was entered into the Polishing Room book.) The last two digits of the year your barrel was made will be stamped under the barrel. Same goes for the Models 53 and 65. We are especially eager to get barrel dates as a way to cross reference polishing room dates.
The fellow researching the Models 94, 55 and 64 is Bert. He is the one who is doing the research and will publish various articles on his findings, when it comes to the Model 55. If you join the Winchester Arms Collectors Association forum, (wwwwwwww.winchestercollector.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=3 )you can raise your Model 55 questions there and Bert will respond. Also, if you have any Model 55 or 64 data, he will be grateful for that information, so he can add it to his database.
In the meantime, if you have any information on Model 65's (serial number, caliber, type of steel used in barrel, sights, etc.), I would be very thankful for that info to add to my database on surviving Model 65's.
