On display at the 2018 SHOT Show were two rifles that are legendary in Winchester bolt action history: the Winchester Hotchkiss (the first Winchester bolt action, developed in the late 1880s) and the Model 54 Winchester (the first true sporting bolt action and the rifle that lead to the development of the Model 70). Both rifles were provided for our display by our friends at the Cody Firearms Museum. 

In his comprehensive book, Winchester Bolt Action Military and Sporting Rifles 1877 to 1937, the legendary Winchester historian Herbert G. Houze offers a perfect historical overview: "Winchester was the first American arms maker to commercially manufacture a bolt-action repeating rifle . . . from the famous Hotchkiss through the to the popular Models 54 and 70."

He highlights in his book little-known forays in bolt-actions "like the Murata Year 17 Rifle, Model 1895 Winchester-Lee, the Willam Mason Straight Pulls, the T.C. Johnson Model A and B Magazine Rifles, the Pattern 1914 Enfields and much more."

Houze's history covers from 1877 up to the early days of the Model 70. Although 1877 is the beginning of Winchester's involvement in bolt-action rifles, actual production of limited numbers began in 1878. Interpretations of progress on the Winchester-Hotchkiss vary among historians, but Mr. Houze's book is considered very authoritative in this area. 

No firearms manufacture has more experience with bolt actions than Winchester Repeating Arms. If you are doing research on Winchester bolt actions this is a must-have book.

More Information on his book is on Amazon. 

Winchester began its experience with bolt-action rifles with the Winchester Hotchkiss rifle. The Winchester Hotchkiss was a unique rifle with a number of innovative features. It was originally designed and patented by rifle designer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss in 1876. Winchester purchased the design, did some significant improvements and -- after a short industrialization period --  the rifle was approved by the U.S. Government and a contract was signed. Winchester began producing the rifles at the Winchester Repeating Arms factory in New Haven, Connecticut. A number of rifles were also produced at the Springfield Armory starting in 1878.

How unique was the Winchester Hotchkiss? While it was not ground breaking, it was a good learning experience for the company that virtually owned the lever action rifle business worldwide. The Winchester Hotchkiss had a single rear locking lug that was integral with the bolt handle. It utilized a tubular buttstock magazine quite similar to the successful Spencer rifle of that era.  Different versions were developed (in .45-70 Govt.) for the US Navy and the U.S. Army. This use by the U.S. military, along with purchases by a small number of state militias, made it ". . . the first center-fire bolt-action repeater to be adopted by any major military." Read more about the Winchester Hotchkiss on Wikipedia and at the Forgotten Weapons website.  

The Winchester Model 54. Outdoor Life Magazine did a review of "The Most Influential Deer Rifles of All Time" in 2008. The Winchester Model 54 was on the list. In their words, ". . . knowing that any bolt-action rifle would be critically compared to the popular '03 Springfield and Mauser of 1898, Winchester overcame the challenge successfully in 1925 by combining good features from both."

They continued detailing that the Model 54 was ". . . offered in a full range of popular calibers from the .22 Hornet to the .30/06, the Model 54 raised the bar on rifle accuracy and incorporated distinctive features and styling that were later inherited by Winchester's Model 70."

Two interesting facts pointed out in the article were that the .270 Winchester was introduced as a new cartridge in 1925 and first offered in the Model 54, .and the Model 54 was offered in a heavy-barrel sniper model, most of which were chambered in .30/06."

The famous Model 70 was an improvement on the Model 54 which is impressive when you consider that the 54 was clearly one of the best bolt-action rifles available at the time in the world. 

Bolt-action of the Century. When most people think bolt-action Winchesters, they think Model 70, and for good reasons. The Model 70 has been repeatedly revered as "The Bolt-Action of the Century," and has established itself as the rifle all other bolt-actions are judged by. Generations of bolt-action experience went into the Model 70 and the same can be said for today's new generation Winchester bolt action, the XPR. 

Jump forward 135 plus years to the new XPR. The XPR is the latest in a long line of groundbreaking bolt-actions from Winchester Repeating Arms, and continues our tradition of creating innovative rifle designs. You can believe it when we say “We Know Bolts,” because we’ve been building world-class bolt-action rifles since 1878.

Winchester made a significant contribution during WWI. In addition to producing over a half-million 1917 Enfields for the war effort, Winchester continued a process of improvement, research, and development.

As researched by Danny Michael, the Assistant Curator of the Cody Firearms Museum, the P14 Enfield and the M1917 along with the 1903 Springfield "became the basis for a series of experimental rifles at the Winchester factory. Thomas C. Johnson worked at the center of the project beginning in the summer of 1914. By the end of the war, Johnson built a full range of experimental rifles that led to his post-war designs."

READ DANNY MICHAEL'S EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON THE EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNS OF WINCHESTER'S FAMED DESIGNER T.C. JOHNSON, FOUND ON THE CODY FIREARMS MUSEUM WEBSITE.