Catalogues W.R.A.Co. 1965 to 1918

How the 12-volume set of Catalogues W.R.A.Co. came to be published…

The Winchester Repeating Arms Company collected 54 original trade catalogs in 1910 and bound them in 10 leather-bound volumes for the patent library. When the company was sold to United States Repeating Arms Company in 1981, the collection was discovered and acquired by a Winchester enthusiast.

The set was reprinted by Armory Publications in 1991-92 and included two additional volumes taking the study up to 1918. The books originally sold for $75 per copy, or $900 for a 12-volume set. The complete set is out of print and no longer available through Armory Publications. Recently, a few sets became available from a collector for $1,200 for a complete 12-volume set, shrink-wrapped and still in the original unopened boxes.

Contact  if you are interested in purchasing a complete 12-volume set of Catalogues W.R.A.Co.

Descriptions of several volumes in the set are listed below.

Volume I, Catalogues W.R.A. Co 1865-1881

Volume I contains the 1865 New Haven Arms Company catalogue with sectioned illustration of the Henry rifle. This is the catalogue with all of the Civil War testimonials about the Henry Rifle. The book also includes seven succeeding Winchester Repeating Arms Company catalogues from 1871 to May 1881.

Beginning in 1875, the catalogues include full-size illustrations of model 1866, 1873, 1876 and the Hotchkiss Repeater. Also included are illustrations of rimfire and centerfire ammunition, sights, and the first loading tool.<p>

Volume I (hardcover, 440 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) contains the following catalogues:

1865 (47 pages) Henry’s Repeating Rifle, Manufactured by New Haven Arms Co.

1871 (65 pages) Winchester’s Repeating Fire Arms, Rifled Muskets, Carbines, Shot Guns, Hunting and Target Rifles, Manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms Company

1873 (56 pages); 1875 (64 pages); 1879 (63 pages) Winchester’s Repeating Fire Arms, Rifled Muskets, Carbines, Hunting and Target Rifles, and Metallic Cartridges of all kinds, Manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

1880 (48 pages); Jan. 1881 (48 pages); May 1881 (48 pages): Winchester’s Repeating

Fire Arms, Rifled Muskets, Carbines, Hunting and Target Rifles, Hotchkiss Magazine Fire Arms and Metallic Cartridges of all kinds, Manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Volume IV, Catalogues W.R.A. Co 1890 - 1893

Volume Four (hardcover, 416 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company: Feb. 1890, 80 pp. Nov. 90, 84 pp, new .22 cal. slide action rifle. July 92, 84 pp, New Model 92 rifle. Feb. 93, 84 pp. June 93, 84 pp, .22 cal. Mod. 73 rifle introduced. Illustrations of the Model 76 are deleted from this and following issues.

Volume Four, starting with February 1890, still illustrates and describes the Model 1866 rifle, caliber .44 Henry, in octagon-barrel rifle, military musket and carbine.  It then shows the Model 1873 in all of its forms—octagon-barrel, full-length tubular magazine, the Special Sporting Rifle with checkered pistol grip and fore arm, the half-magazine, half-octagon-barrel model, the musket with three-band stock, and the 20-inch-barrel carbine.  The calibers listed are .44 W.C.F., 38W.C.F., and 32-20 W.C.F.  A .22 rimfire repeater adapter is also available.  Next is the Model 1876 in .45-75, .45-60 and 40-60 and .50-95 Winchester.  The Hotchkiss Model 1883 bolt action rifle in .45-70 caliber is followed by the Winchester Model 1885 single shot rifle; the Model 1886 lever action, tubular magazine rifle in standard grade through deluxe in calibers from .50-110 down to .38-56.  The Model 1885 lever-action shot gun is illustrated in standard and fancy grades with illustrations of parts. The catalogue closes with full-size illustrations of each cartridge manufactured by Winchester, the loading tools, and the shotshells.  In the November 1890 catalogue the new .22tubular magazine rifle is introduced in .22 Short, Long, and .22 Winchester Special. The book concludes with the1893 catalogue.

Volume V, Catalogues W.R.A. Co  -

Volume Five (hardcover, 334 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company: Apr. 1894, 100 pp. New Model 93 slide action shotgun, shot shells to 8 gauge. Nov. 94, 111 pp. Model 94 rifle added. Feb. 95, adds cartridges for Colt and Marlin rifles. Aug. 95, 114pp.

Volume Five, starting with April 1894, still has the Models 1866 and 1973, plus all of the rifles and the Model 1885 lever action shotgun.  A new shotgun model is added:  the Model 21893 slide action hammer repeater.  By August 1895 the catalogue is 114 pages, with added illustrations of parts for each model, more centerfire cartridges and shotshells, more loading tools, and cleaning materials.

Volume VI, Catalogues W.R.A. Co -

Volume Six (hardcover, 530 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company: Jan. 1896, 114 pp. June 96, 128 pp. Announces Mod. 95 box magazine, lever action rifle, including only offering of .236 U. S. Navy as a chambering (never made). Dec. 96, 130 pp. Mar. 97, 138 pp. First lists NEW GOODS, including Winchester Schuetzen rifle, New Rival shot shell. Nov. 97, 148 pp. Introduces Lee Straight Pull rifle.

Volume Six, beginning with the January catalogue, introduces the Metal Lined shotshell. The Rival and Leader shells are also illustrated.  In the June 1896 the Model 1895box-magazine, lever action rifle is shown for the first time in calibers .236U. S. Navy, .30 Army (.30-40), 38-72, and 40-72 Winchester.  The .236 was never produced and does not appear again.  The catalogues in this volume steadily expand to 148 pages, with schuetzen Model 1885 single shotrifles, more centerfire cartridges, shotshells and loading tools

Volume VII, Catalogues W.R.A. Co 1898 - 1899 

Volume Seven (Hardcover, 624 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company:

Mar. 1898,152 pp. Oct. 98,158 pp.

Engraved and carved Models 86, 94 and 92, also Trapper Model 85 and take downs. Model 66 no longer shown, though parts listed. Feb. 99, 156 pp. Aug. 99, 158 pp.

Volume VIII, Catalogues W.R.A. Co  -

Volume Eight (hardcover, 652 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company:

Apr. 1900, 164 pp. Oct. 1900, 160 pp. Mar. 01, 164 pp. Jan. 02, 164 pp.

First use of a decorative typeface on cover, and gives addresses of the Winchester stores. Thumb trigger Mod. 1900 .22 rifle illus. June 02, 164 pp.

Volume IX, Catalogues W.R.A. Co  -

Volume Nine (hardcover, 494 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company:

Mar. 1903, 160 pp. Adds 1902 single shot .22 rifle, the iron-wheeled 10 gauge saluting cannon, Hotchkiss bolt action rifle no longer illus. June 04, 164 pp. Introduces the Mod. 1904 .22 single shot rifles, thumb trigger model $3.50 and shows the Winchester Automatic .22 rifle, Model 1903. Oct. 05, 170 pp. Introduces the Model 1905 self-loading rifle in .32 and .35.

Volume X, Catalogues W.R.A. Co -

Volume Ten (hardcover, 914 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company:

Jan. 1907, 176 pp.

Introduces Models 1906 and 1907 self-loading rifles, Winchester supplemental chamber, Model 1906 slide action for .22 Short only. Mar. 08, 180 pp. The Mod. 95 N. R. A. Musket chambered for .30 Gov't 1903 and 1906 cartridges and regular Model 95 rifle chambered for .30-06. Mar. 09, 182 pp. Adds .25 Auto, .7.65 Roth-Sauer and 9mm Luger pistol cartridges to ammunition section. Mar. 09, 182 pp. Adds .22 Long and .22 Long rifle to Model 1906 slide action. June 10, 194 pp. Adds takedowns to Mod. 95 and Mod. 85 single shot. Introduces Model 1910 rifle in .401 caliber.

Volume XI, Catalogues W.R.A. Co 1911 - 1914

Volume Eleven (hardcover, 614 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company: Oct. 1911, 202 pp.

Adds Mod. 1911 shotgun, drops all but .33, .45-70, .45-90 and .50-110 in Mod. 86 and drops .38-72 and .40-72 from Mod. 95. Jan. 13, 212 pp. Adds Model 1912 slide action shotgun in 20 ga. only. 1914, 226 pp. Adds 12 and 16 gauges to Model 12 shotgun, and single shot Model 85 added in 20 gauge.

Volume XII, Catalogues W.R.A. Co  -

Volume Twelve (hardcover, 439 pages, 8 ½” X 6”) Contains the following catalogues from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company: 1916, 224 pp. No new guns. 1918, 215 pp.

The Mod. 73 rifle disappears from the catalogue. Model 12 and Model 97 riot guns illustrated. Smokeless cartridges listed in red, black powder in black.

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