Winchester Self-Loading Model 1907
Winchester Repeating Arms Company · Rifle · Out Of Production · 1907
Also known as: Model 1907 SL, Winchester 1907, 1907 Self-Loader
Overview
The Winchester Self-Loading Model 1907 is a blowback-operated semi-automatic rifle designed by T.C. Johnson and produced by Winchester from 1907 to 1957. Chambered in the proprietary .351 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge, it fed from detachable 5, 10, 15, or 20-round box magazines. During World War I, the rifle was purchased in modest quantities by France, Imperial Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with French-issued examples being converted to selective-fire (full-automatic) capability for trench and aircraft use.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3600 g (127.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1000 mm (39.37") |
| Barrel Length | 510 mm (20.08") |
| Action Type | Blowback |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 564 m/s (1850 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1855 J (1368 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .351 Winchester Self-Loading · primary — also known as .351 SL, .351 WSL, 351 Winchester
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Detachable Box Magazine, Takedown Design, Iron Sights
Variants
- Model 1907 Plain Finish — Standard
- Model 1907 Fancy Finish — Deluxe
- Model 1907 Police Rifle — Law Enforcement
- Model 1907/17 — Military
Service history
Operators
- French Army · adopted 1915
- Imperial Russian Army · adopted 1916
- British Armed Forces · adopted 1914
- United States Army Air Service · adopted 1917
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- Russian Civil War (1917-1923)
Production
Estimated total produced: 58,000 · Production years: 1907-1957
Includes all civilian Plain/Fancy Finish, Police Rifle, and military 1907/17 variants. French selective-fire conversions were field modifications, not factory production.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Thomas Crossley Johnson
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
One of the first commercially successful semi-automatic centerfire rifles. Production totaled roughly 58,000 units across all variants over its 50-year run. The Police Rifle variant was favored by Depression-era law enforcement agencies for its firepower against vehicle armor.
Background
French aviators in WWI strapped the Model 1907 to early biplanes and converted them to full-auto fire (around 700 rpm) - making the humble Winchester sporting rifle one of the earliest aerial machine guns before purpose-built aircraft armament became standard.