Winchester Model 1901

About the Winchester Model 1901

The Winchester Model 1901 is a lever-action shotgun chambered exclusively in 10 gauge. It is a strengthened, smokeless-powder-capable evolution of John Browning's earlier Model 1887, re-engineered in stronger alloy steel. Produced from 1901 to about 1920, roughly 13,500 were made before the design was rendered obsolete by pump-action shotguns.

The Model 1901 exists only because the original lever-action Model 1887 - which Browning reportedly thought was a poor concept but built at Winchester's insistence - could not handle the new smokeless powders in 12 gauge, so Winchester re-engineered it in stronger steel and offered it in 10 gauge only.

Winchester Model 1901 specifications

Offered only in 10 gauge with a 2-7/8 in (73 mm) chamber; a smokeless 12-gauge version was never made because the action could not safely contain smokeless 12-gauge pressures. Standard 30 in barrel, 32 in by special order; some sources cite barrel length and end-date variation (production records run to 1931 for assembled-from-parts guns).