24 | WINCHESTERCOLLECTOR.ORG • Winter 2023 One final, minor production change occurred beginning in late 1952. Specifically, the grip cap on the pistol grip of the Deer Rifles was changed from a black hard-rubber piece (with the Winchester logo embossed on it) to a plain blued-steel grip cap. Serial number 1909414 is the earliest Model 64 with a bluedsteel cap that I have documented thus far. When this production change was made, it was not a universal change, as Winchester was still using their on-hand supply of the older style hardrubber grip caps as late as 1956 (very near the end of production). I have documented factory-original Deer Rifles with the hard-rubber grip cap as late as serial number 2189551. This same production change to the grip caps was also made at the same time to other Winchester models, namely the Model 43 and Model 71. Finally, the alleged production count for the Model 64 is listed in several reference documents as 66,783 total guns. However, and based on the current information that I have compiled within the research survey, there is considerable doubt about the accuracy of the 66,783 production number. At the current time, the statistical data contained in the research survey suggests that the actual production number for the Model 64 could have exceeded 150,000. The information contained in the following tables was derived from the ongoing research survey that I am conducting. The production numbers and percentages that I present are merely extrapolations based on those observed (surveyed) thus far, and those numbers and percentages should not be used as a definitive source for determining the rarity or Above: Examples of the ultra-rare 38-55 and 32-40 barrel stamps Above: Hard-rubber grip cap and blued-steel grip cap examples as detailed in the text
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