WINCHESTER MOD 74 SNIPER RIFLE

Description

The Winchester Model 74 rifle was a popular sporting weapon, manufactured between 1939 and 1955 by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company of New Haven, Connecticut. It was a self-loading rifle, which chambered .22 rimfire cartridges. It was chambered for either .22 Long Rifle or, as in this example, .22 Short. A small quantity of these rifles were purchased during the Second World War for issue to the British Auxiliary Units – a clandestine organization intended to wage guerilla war against the Germans in the event of occupation. These rifles were fitted with silencers and optical sights, and were intended for use in assassinations. It is not known for certain whether this particular rifle saw such service, but it is possible, as it is of 1940 production, the receiver has been drilled to accept sight-mounts and the muzzle has been threaded to receive a silencer. The silencer, manufactured by Parker-Hale, who carried out the conversion of the Auxiliary Unit rifles in 1942, was acquired separately.