Winchester Model 55

[thegunnut]

I need a little help with .22 rimfire identification.
Bought a bunch of stuff, and included was a strange little single shot, self cocking .22 rifle.
It is marked " Winchester model 55" .22 s,l,lr.
It has an external cocking mechanism on the right side of the stock. Pull it rearward and it cocks the action.
There is a spring loaded "trap door" on the top through which you then insert 1 shell.
The empty ejects down through a hole in the btm of the stock.
Appears to be a flying bolt (like the old Gevarm) but it is completely encased.
The recoil recocks the action, and you may then insert another round through the "trap door".

Kind of a semi auto single shot.
I have not been able to find anything on the web about these. Anyone got any idea what I have here????

Thx
Thegunnut.

 

[art.h]

I know of a freind who may have owned one. If it's the same model he was not impressed as the action and barrel were pinned together I think and any use loosened everything up

 

[bluedcanoed]

Winchester 55

That's right Art. A heavy sliding bolt powered by a strong spring made necessary a really stiff trigger pull. The receiver was attached to the barrel with a solid cross pin (not even a roll pin) which didn't help accuracy either. Not one of Winchester's better ideas. They were made in the late 1950's. (There was another lever action known as the Model 55 in the 1930's which sometimes leads to confusion).

Bob