!!!!!SOLD!!!!! Ralph Stratman 1/2 Scale Winchester Thumb Trigger Model Bolt Action Single Shot .22 Caliber Rimfire Boy’s Rifle !!!!!SOLD!!!!!

!!!!!SOLD!!!!!  This is a 1/2 scale Winchester Thumb Trigger Model single shot bolt action .22 caliber rimfire boy’s rifle made by Ralph Stratman of Indiana.  16 3/4″ long overall with a 8 3/4″ round barrel of .130 caliber.  Most of the metal parts are blued steel with the exception of the bolt assembly which is steel finished in the white.  One piece walnut stock with a black plastic buttplate.  This piece is functional, including the extractor, except there is no firing pin.  This piece is very well made & strongly resembles the work of Ron DeWalt, who also made some 1/2 scale Winchester Thumb Trigger Models.

Made by Winchester from 1904 to 1923, these rifles do not have a traditional trigger & triggerguard on the bottom of the rifle.  Instead, once the cocking piece is pulled rearward to cock the bolt, there is a small lever or button at the base of the cocking piece which is the sear, that when depressed fires the rifle.  This made the rifle easier & cheaper to produce, plus it was thought it would increase accuracy over a traditional trigger since there would be less tendency to jerk the trigger.  Winchester, in later years, called this the model 99.  Near mint as made condition.  !!!!!SOLD!!!!!