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Brought home my first Winchester rifle, a Model 72A, that’s been in the family for decades. First surprised there was no serial number but with my initial research that appears to be the norm. I’d bet it’s a post war Model but I’d appreciate any guidance to help me date it.
Thanks in advance
Craig Best said
Brought home my first Winchester rifle, a Model 72A, that’s been in the family for decades. First surprised there was no serial number but with my initial research that appears to be the norm. I’d bet it’s a post war Model but I’d appreciate any guidance to help me date it.
Since this model (same action as a M 69, but with tubular mag) was introduced in 1938, most would have been built post-war. Might be a date under breech end of brl. None of these lower-cost .22s were serialized. (Though Stevens & Rem did so on rifles priced no higher.)
If you’re willing to drop $100 get The Winchester Handbook by Madis. It’s a good source for trying to narrow the mfg date on all the rimfires due to variances in production markings and sights etc… I also HIGHLY recommend Jeffery Abendshiens book on the Model 69. There is plenty of information in this book that carries over to other rimfire models. Honestly the best book ever written, Jeff connects all the dots with good pictorials. Contact him on his website. Best money you can spend on a Winchester Book.
Steve G
Steven Gabrielli said I also HIGHLY recommend Jeffery Abendshiens book on the Model 69. There is plenty of information in this book that carries over to other rimfire models. Honestly the best book ever written, Jeff connects all the dots with good pictorials. Contact him on his website. Best money you can spend on a Winchester Book.
Amen to that! Then you won’t be one of those lamenting your hesitation if it sells out, as all gun books eventually do, & in a short time double or triple in price on the OP market.
Steven Gabrielli said
If you’re willing to drop $100 get The Winchester Handbook by Madis. It’s a good source for trying to narrow the mfg date on all the rimfires due to variances in production markings and sights etc…Steve G
Steve,
I strongly disagree with that statement. That was one of the subject areas that George unfortunately miserably failed at in his otherwise great tomes.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Well you would know better than me for sure. Of the few rifles that do have sn’s that I have, the info seems to line up. Do you have a better source encompassing Madis’ breath of models that is more accurate?
Steven Gabrielli said
Well you would know better than me for sure. Of the few rifles that do have sn’s that I have, the info seems to line up. Do you have a better source encompassing Madis’ breath of models that is more accurate?
Yes I do… the CFM records office has the Polishing Room (PR) serialization records for many of the models that bore serial numbers. Pauline Muerrle has a fair number of the records that are not in the CFM’s possession. Many years ago, I spent several days at the CFM records office researching the PR records and used that information to create the tables in Chapter 8 of the “The Red Book of Winchester Values, 4th edition”. To keep the tables somewhat compact, I only published the year ending serial numbers, but in most cases (for my own research notes), I recorded the month ending serial numbers (much like Ned Schwing did for the Models 1890 and 1906 in his wonderful reference books). My good friend Jeff (JWA) has also documented (or is working on documenting) the verified dates for the many different .22 caliber Winchester models that he is actively researching.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Craig Best said
Brought home my first Winchester rifle, a Model 72A, that’s been in the family for decades. First surprised there was no serial number but with my initial research that appears to be the norm. I’d bet it’s a post war Model but I’d appreciate any guidance to help me date it.
Hi Craig,
The people above have given you good info but I will summarize it for you;
– The Model 72 was introduced in 1938, in 1949 the design was updated and the designation became the Model 72A.
– In mid-1954 grooves were added to the top of the receiver to allow scopes to be mounted with Weaver style “tip-off” mounts.
– The Model 72A was officially discontinued in 1959.
So, if your rifle is a 72A (and not a 72) it was made post-1948, if it has grooves on the top of the receiver it was made post-July 1954.
If you can provide some clear pictures of the rifle we can narrow the date of manufacture down even further as there were later changes to the stock as well as a few other components.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Also,
Gentlemen, thanks for the kind words regarding the Model 69 book, I can’t wait to get the new book on the Model 75 out to you since I feel it is even better and has more detail. Hopefully later this year.
And Bert is being modest as usual, his Red Book of Winchester Values is a much more accurate source of Winchester dates of manufacture and information for all models than the earlier Madis works. Bert had access to information that George Madis did not have or use. The same scenario could easily happen to all of us, one day there may be an even bigger/better book on the Winchester Model 69 if someone can find more info stashed away somewhere. As authors we only have the information resources available (or known) to us at the time of writing.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Looking forward to the new book, please let us know when the preorder is available. I would love Bert’s Red book, but I’m late to the show on that one, it’s a bit expensive for me.
Steven Gabrielli said
Looking forward to the new book, please let us know when the preorder is available. I would love Bert’s Red book, but I’m late to the show on that one, it’s a bit expensive for me.
Steve,
Expensive? How much is it currently being sold for in the used book market?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Online
Bert H. said
Steven Gabrielli said
Looking forward to the new book, please let us know when the preorder is available. I would love Bert’s Red book, but I’m late to the show on that one, it’s a bit expensive for me.
Steve,
Expensive? How much is it currently being sold for in the used book market?
Bert
Here’s a copy that sold for $165:
I really need to change my current focus and rewrite and publish the 5th edition!
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
That’s the cheapest I found, some sites as high as 190+ and then add tax and shipping. When’s the 5th addition coming out! I’m not really interested in prices, so I will try to pic up a 3rd edition and get a 5th when it comes out.
I always hear of looking at features to verify manufacture date, but some not sure if all model 72a’s have a barrel date near the receiver on the underside of barrel.
Bert H. said
I really need to change my current focus and rewrite and publish the 5th edition!
Now that Fjestad’s blue book is dead (I hear), we really may need a new valuation book…it’s the additional and new (and don’t forget the reprinted old stuff) info that adds value and keeps it from just being an “old edition” with no value. Make it so!
Both these authors have a lot of stuff on their plates. I don’t know how they do it. It is very hard to do valuations without seeing a gun, and research, that is a tough road to hoe. I personally admire JWA and Bert. We lost Mr. Shennum a while back, and he was one smart gentleman.
Anything written by these guys is well worth having at any price. Big Larry
Jeremy P said
Now that Fjestad’s blue book is dead (I hear), we really may need a new valuation book…
The internet has obviated that need. Current, real world, values are instantly available by comparing prices on GB, GI, other gun-selling platforms.
clarence said
Jeremy P said
Now that Fjestad’s blue book is dead (I hear), we really may need a new valuation book…
The internet has obviated that need. Current, real world, values are instantly available by comparing prices on GB, GI, other gun-selling platforms.
I would disagree. That book provided other information too beyond just (ballpark) valuations, some of it well-summarized and valuable. It could serve as a guidepost to the wild variety of prices you see on those platforms you mention…an “average” of pricing according to area professionals.
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