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The Innovative Winchester Model 59

This close-up view of the right side of the receiver shows the carrier lock button located below the ejection port. The button in the anterior bow of the trigger guard is the cross bolt safety.

BY BERNARD H. DIGIACOBBE, M.D.

PHOTOS BY ROSEMARIE V. DVORCHAK

Supposedly, if you build a better mouse trap the world will beat a path to your door. However, this was not the case with the Winchester model 59 autoloading shotgun. While it was certainly a better mouse trap, the shooting public ignored it. Sales were so poor, in fact, that Winchester stopped production in 1965 after selling only 82,085 of them. As so often happens, shortly after production ceased the gun enjoyed near-cult status, especially among upland game hunters.

Then as now, if a shotgun barrel becomes obstructed with mud or snow, it is likely to burst when the gun is fired. Sometimes this causes the muzzle to split. Other times it causes the barrel to split all too close to the shooter’s hand or face. Increasing the thickness of the walls of the barrel would make the barrel stronger. Unfortunately, the extra weight would ruin the gun’s balance. To try and solve this dilemma, the Winchester engineers experimented with aluminum alloy and titanium barrels. While these metals allowed for stronger barrels, they could fragment, resulting in an even more dangerous situation. After more than five years of research and development, the engineers settled on a then new material, fiberglass. This material had recently demonstrated its strength and durability in boats and car bodies. Each barrel had a full 500 miles of glass fiber wound circumferentially around a 0.020-inch steel liner. The glass fiber was then bonded under heat and pressure in a polyester matrix. To achieve a conventional appearance, the outer surface of the barrel was wrapped with color impregnated fiberglass cloth. This outer layer was then machined to a smooth finish. The finished barrel, although shiner and slightly larger in diameter, closely resembled a conventional shotgun barrel.

In addition to serving as a mandrel for winding the glass fiber, the steel liner also later protected the fiberglass from the intense heat of the burning powder and the abrasion of the shotgun pellets. Remember, this was before shells were loaded with plastic shot cups, which is today the norm. As an added bonus the steel liner also contained the interrupted threads for attaching the barrel to the receiver!

This photo demonstrates the spatial relationship of the floating chamber to the barrel and the receiver.

In fiberglass boats and car bodies, the glass fibers are randomly arranged. This results in the fiberglass being of equal strength and – unfortunately – equal weakness in all directions. However, on the Win-Lite barrel (as Winchester called it) the strength was maximized circumferentially where it was needed the most. This resulted in a barrel with almost twice the hoop strength of a conventional steel barrel but with only about half the weight! As an added bonus, in the unlikely event of catastrophic failure, the circumferentially wound glass fibers restricted fragmentation. Factory testing revealed that when the barrels were deliberately blown up, they would split lengthwise without fragmenting. This gradually released the contained pressure.

The fiberglass also offered some more practical advantages. Like fiberglass boats and car bodies, these barrels were dent resistant. The impregnated color also made the scratches less visible. Unfortunately, the chamber area could turn yellow in color with sustained usage. Reportedly, the muzzles could start to unravel if subjected to continual abuse. But then again the muzzle of any abused shotgun can be a sorry sight. At this point one has to wonder: was the Win Lite barrel the inspiration for today’s high-tech carbon fiber Rifle barrels?

While the model 59 was available only in 12 gauge, different barrel lengths were available initially. The improved cylinder barrels were 26 inches while Modified choked barrels were 28 inches. Full choke barrels were available in 28 or 30 inches. However, by 1961 only 26 inch barrels were available. Earlier barrels had the front sight mounted directly on the barrel in conventional fashion; later barrels had a pad placed at the muzzle to mount the front bead slightly higher. Surprisingly, none of the Win-Lite barrels was fitted with a top rib. Presumably one could have been easily glued to the barrel. This would have been considerably easier than soldering a top rib to a conventional steel barrel.

The external fiberglass surface of the barrel made it virtually impossible to install one of the then-popular aftermarket external collet type external chokes. Remember the PolyChoke? To compensate for this, in 1961 Winchester introduced a removable/interchangeable choke, threaded into the muzzle end of the steel liner of the barrel. An inch or so of the removable choke extended beyond the muzzle. The external portion had a series of transverse slots serving as a muzzle brake, as was common with many of those external collet chokes. While Modified chokes were fitted as standard, extra Versalite (as Winchester called them) choke tubes were available in improved cylinder and full constrictions, for an extra $4.95 each. They were supplied with a flat stamped sheet metal wrench for easy removal. In actual practice they could be easily changed by hand. Yes, the model 59 introduced the now ubiquitous choke tubes! And after the passing of the Model 59, that idea lay dormant for decades.

In addition to its lightweight barrel, the Model 59 also had a lightweight aluminum receiver. These advances resulted in a 12 gauge autoloader that weighed only a little over 6 pounds! The gun’s predecessor, the Model 50, weighed about 7-3/4 pounds. Incidentally, there was also a lightweight version of the Model 50 with an aluminum receiver, which weighed a little less.

The 59’s receiver was not only streamlined in size and shape but was also devoid of external screws and pins. The sides of the receivers featured a roller-impressed hunting scene: perhaps a bit crude by today’s standards, but in all fairness it was Winchester’s first use of the technique. As with other aluminum receivers of the time, those receivers were prone to developing cracks at points of stress. On the Model 59 this was most likely to occur on the right side just behind the slot for the operating handle. If buying a used Model 59, be sure to inspect this area very carefully! Fortunately the engineers at Winchester learned to solve this vexing problem by peening (stress relieving) the receiver in this area. Reportedly, the receivers could turn white after hard use. While I have observed at least one cracked receiver, I can’t remember ever having seen a receiver that turned white.

Not only were the receiver and trigger assembly made out of aluminum to save weight, but even this small stock reinforcement was made of aluminum. All this resulted in a gun that weighed less than the trigger pull on many other guns!

The remainder of the Model 59 was a carry-over from its predecessor, the standard-barreled Model 50. However the Model 50 was also a very innovative gun. It was probably the only shotgun to use the floating chamber system of operation. Back then, gas operated shotguns were available, the first successful one having been the High Standard Supermatic, released under the J. C. Higgins brand name. Unfortunately those guns were unreliable, especially if their gas pistons weren’t cleaned regularly. This problem was exacerbated by the fact that their gas pistons were difficult to dissemble and clean.

The Model 59 introduced the now ubiquitous concept of interchangeable choke tubes.

The quick detachable trigger mechanism featured several design features that resulted in one of the best trigger pulls ever offered on an autoloader. Unfortunately the complex shapes of the components meant that they could not be economically stamped from sheet metal but rather had to be investment cast. This significantly increased the cost of production. Why did Winchester color the assembly gold? Perhaps they just wanted to flaunt some of the many innovations in the mechanism.

The more successful autoloading shotguns of the time were recoil operated, generally utilizing the long recoil system of operation. The old “hump back” Browning A-5 is a good example of that system of operation. The barrel would telescope approximately 5/8 of an inch into the receiver. This relatively long motion of the barrel would result in an undesirable “double-shuffle” pattern of recoil. The barrel travel also complicated the fitting of a top rib. Worse yet the gun had to be adjusted when switching to or from magnum loads by removing the barrel and reversing the friction ring.

On the Models 50/59, however, the floating chamber, which included the forcing cone, telescoped into the chamber end of the barrel. The bolt locked directly to an extension at the back of the floating chamber. Thus immediately after firing, the floating chamber and bolt would recoil backward while still locked together. After .09 of an inch of rearward travel, an abutment within the receiver prevented further rearward travel of the floating chamber. By that time, the cam of the bolt carrier would have unlocked the bolt from the floating chamber. The unlocked bolt was then free to continue traveling rearward. A small coiled spring and plunger within the receiver would return the floating chamber to its full forward position. Compared to the previously described long recoil system, the short travel of the lightweight floating chamber didn’t have enough inertia to cause the undesirable “double shuffle.” It didn’t even have enough inertia to operate the gun! To increase the bolt’s momentum, it was connected via a rod to a weight contained within the buttstock. The rearward motion of these components was resisted initially and subsequently reversed by the recoil spring, which was also contained within the buttstock. The combination of the light weight barrel in conjunction with the extra weight in the buttstock resulted in a uniquely muzzle light balance. This resulted in a very responsive swing that some hunters, especially quail and grouse hunters, preferred.

The system would work with all standard American 2-3/4-inch shells, including 2-3/4-inch magnums, without external adjustment. Malfunctions could occur with light loads or shells with a slow pressure buildup. This was more common with European loads, and Model 50s sold in Europe ultimately had to be Modified for reliable operation. According to the physicists, you don’t get something for nothing. It took a fair amount of energy to operate the mechanism and compress the recoil spring. Fortunately this energy came from the recoil generated from firing the gun. According to Winchester, the gun had 20% less recoil! In addition, the recoil was more comfortably distributed over a long (relatively speaking) push as opposed to a sudden jolt. Extending the recoil pulse has the effect of decreasing the shooter’s perception of recoil.

So, while lighter guns generally kick more, the Model 59 actually kicked less. The effect was further enhanced by the muzzle brake configured into the Versa Lite choke tubes. As such it was an ideal beginner’s gun, light to carry and shoot with the effectiveness of a 12 gauge! And of course the same features endeared it to experienced hunters. Supposedly, the gun would jam if debris accumulated between the exterior surface of the floating chamber and the corresponding surface of the barrel.

Certainly any gun can jam if enough debris accumulates in the wrong place. However, one of the 59s that I examined for this piece had quite a bit of crud lying within the bottom of the receiver. When questioned, the owner stated that he couldn’t remember the gun ever jamming. The U. S. Treasury Department, however, found a definite problem with the floating chamber. Shortly after the Model 50 was introduced, they discovered that the gun could be fired without the barrel attached. As such the gun could be used as a sawed off shotgun. To prevent this, Winchester was required to recall their initial production and modify them so that they couldn’t shoot without the barrel attached.

The right side of the gun. It seems ordinary enough until you pick it up.

The floating chamber system was also used in some other firearms. It was used in the Colt Ace, a .22 rimfire adaption of the Colt 1911. In that gun, the floating chamber was utilized to increase the recoil of the .22 cartridge, allowing it operate the heavy slide of the gun. In the Remington Model 550 autoloading rifle, the floating chamber selectively boosted the recoil of the .22 Short cartridge, allowing .22 Short, Long and Long Rifle cartridges to be used interchangeably. These guns, as well as the floating chamber itself, were the brainchildren of the legendary Marsh “Carbine” Williams. He is, however, best remembered for having developed the short stroke gas piston used in the M-1 carbine of World War II. He was a genius at understanding the momentum dynamics of autoloading guns and went on to perfect the short recoil system of operation. Surprisingly, he wasn’t a formally trained engineer. In fact he had little formal education at all. However he managed to work out the principles of operation of those guns while serving out his prison sentence at the Caledonia Road Camp in North Carolina! Even more amazing is the fact that the warden allowed him to build and modify the guns needed to prove their system of operation.

Some of the earlier autoloaders were plagued by the uncomfortable positioning of their triggers. The Models 50 and 59 maintained the feel and trigger location of the beloved Model 12 pump action. This can be traced back to the fact that back in 1945 Winchester Modified a Model 12 as a prototype to test the float-ing chamber concept. Like the Model 12 and most other repeating shotguns, the Models 50 and 59 had a conventional crossbolt safety located in the anterior portion of the trigger guard. Removing the aluminum assembly reveals some of the innovations of the firing mechanism. A novel feature for the time was how easily it could be removed. Simply drift out the two transverse retaining pins located above the trigger guard and then depress the carrier lock button.

The trigger assembly can then be pulled out of the bottom of the receiver. The Model 59 was known for its quality trigger pulls. The lack of creep and slack was actually a feature of the design. The sear was integral with the trigger, which virtually eliminated any free travel. The distance from the pivot pin to the sear was maximized in relation to the distance from the pivot to the trigger. This in turn shortened the trigger pull and minimized the shooter’s perception of the still-present creep. Unfortunately, this made the earlier versions prone to misfiring. The short length of pull also made them prone to doubling. To prevent this, an additional or back-up sear was configured into the hammer ahead of the main sear notch. Thus, if the trigger were not pulled back far enough, this extra sear notch would block the fall of the hammer.

Unfortunately for Winchester, a number of guns were already sold before this system was adopted. To address this potential problem, Winchester sent a “Blue Book” to gunsmiths throughout the U. S. and Canada explaining how to rectify this potential problem.

With the trigger assembly removed, the complex shapes of the various components of the feeding assembly become apparent. These were also designed by Marsh Williams. He “whittled” them through trial and error until they functioned flawlessly. However, this resulted in shapes that were difficult to manufacture. The then relatively new technique of investment casting helped, but only somewhat. However, they were still nowhere as easy to make as the stamped sheet metal components in modern repeaters. Fortunately the springs were all simple wire springs rather than the more expensive and less reliable leaf springs.

Surprisingly, the magazines of the Models 50 and 59 only held two shells, plus of course one in the chamber. (While this is certainly no disadvantage nowadays, shooters of the time placed an excessive value on firepower.) The ejector was also simple and reliable: a sturdy rod sliding lengthwise within the bolt with the rear portion of the ejector protruding out the back of the bolt. When the bolt reached the end of its rearward travel, the ejector struck an abutment within the rear of the receiver. This then transmitted the force forward, forcibly ejecting the shell. The system is simple and effective, as there were no small parts to break or malfunction because of congealed lubricants.

Unlike the Model 50, which was available in 12 or 20 gauge, the Model 59 was available only in 12 gauge. However, a deluxe version called the Pigeon Grade was manufactured in 1962 and 1963. It featured hand-honed internal components and engine-turned bolts and bolt carriers as well as better-grade stocks built to customer specifications. In 1962 this grade listed for $249.65 while the standard grade sold for $149.50. To put these prices into perspective, the competing Browning A--5 “Hump Back” listed for $129.75 with a plain barrel or $149.75 with a ventilated rib. So the Model 59 was competitively priced. Yet sales of the Model 59 were so poor that Winchester even resorted to a free trial offer. Prospective buyers could take a Model 59 hunting for a day, free of charge. Still, sales lagged to the point that production was terminated in 1965.

The Win Lite barrel, although slightly larger in diameter and shinier, closely resembles a conventional shotgun barrel. Note the interrupted threads at the breech and the interchangeable choke tube at the muzzle.

Unfortunately, things are different today. Today Model 59s are scarce and people willing to part with one are even more scarce. Even if they are too old to hunt with them, they still retain a definite affection for them. If you can locate one in need of repair, replacement parts are occasionally available from the Guns Parts Corporation of West Hurley, New York. However if you are thinking of converting an old lightweight Model 50 (which had an aluminum receiver) into a 59, the Win-Lite barrels are seldom if ever available.

So the Model 59 was definitely a better mouse trap. Yet the shooting world failed to beat a path to Winchester’s door. Why this was so remains a mystery. Perhaps the shooters of the time weren’t as sophisticated as the gun. Despite their short production runs, the Models 50 and 59 sired many innovations that continue to live on in other guns. That’s not a bad epitaph for any gun.