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I picked up a model 75 no sights rifle this weekend. The receiver is drilled and tapped and the holes have plug screws in them.
There is no cut out in the stock for a rear sight.
Were those supplied with a front sight base from the factory? Or was there just a dovetail blank in the front sight barrel slot? This rifle has
front sight base on it. I think it is factory. The serial number is in the 63,300 range. Which according to the charts dates it from 1949-50.
I can’t remember the exact number off the top of my head.
M75’s were sold sightless and the stocks never cut for the rear sight. In my collection, I have a very late M75 target. No cuts in the stock, two Winchester bases, and two blank screws for the front base and receiver. This late of a rifle, did not have a dovetail. It had two screws to mount a base on. You can put just about any rear sight on it, but may require cutting the stock. Take the front base off, and scope the rifle. That may well have been the idea of buying a sightless rifle. I think these factory sightless rifles a bit scarcer than ones with a Lyman or other receiver sights. Oh and BTW, my late rifle is grooved for a scope. Big Larry
I was wondering what, if anything, was in the front sight dovetail when the rifle was shipped from the factory? Mine has a sight base that looks like the one supplied with the model 52’s from the same period. I know a stock with no rear sight notch indicates the rifle was shipped as the sightless variation. The sightless variation must be fairly rare because I’ve been looking for one for the last few years. Mine is maybe the third or fourth one I’ve seen since I started looking. Of course there is no telling how many of the sightless rifle stocks were later notched to mount sights.
Also my rifle has the Winchester trademark on the the left rear side of the receiver behind the ejection port.
Do you know when they started putting grooves in the model 75 receivers? If I remember correctly JWA’s book said model 69’s started in 1956.
I also wonder when they changed over from a front sight dovetail to the two screw holes for mounting a front sight base?
Tom
The Winchester 75 receiver grooves were changed on the drawing in February, 1954 which was about 4 months prior to the addition of the receiver grooves on the Model 69A drawing. The front sight dovetail was changed to the 2 screws on the October, 1955 drawing revision.
Keep in mind the post-war charts for the 75 serial number vs date are not really accurate. I am currently working on a dedicated Model 75 book to correct that 😉
Also, the Winchester roll-marking was moved from the front of the receiver to the rear in 1946 and 1947 and then moved to the final position just behind the loading port in late 1947.
Hope that info helps and PLEASE do not add a notch to the stock, they are hard to find. I would happily trade a stock with the factory notch (plus $$) for an un-notched stock.
Hope that helps.
Best Regards,
.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks for the information. I heard you were working on a model 75 book. I”m sure it will be great just like your 69 book. I understand the charts are not very accurate, but right now they are better than nothing.
The one question I still have is about the front sight dovetail. On a sightless model 75, from the factory what if anything was in the front sight dovetail?
I would NEVER deface an original stock like that. I searched for quite awhile to find this variation of the model 75!
After posting I went and checked the book and found I had the year wrong for the start of the grooved receiver. I was just coming on to correct my post and saw you had replied.
If you need any info on my rifle let me know.The serial number is 63368
Thanks, Tom
Hi Tom,
Sorry, I forgot to answer that part of your question. For the rifles shipped without sights Winchester typically (but not always) installed their standard No. 1 sight blank in the front dovetail, the rear receiver holes had screw plugs and the stock did not have a notch.
Also, your serial number is fairly close to 1949/1950. Your barrel date is likely 1948 or 1949.
Best Regards,
.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks for letting me know. I will pull the stock and post the barrel date.
Tom
JWA,
I pulled the stock on serial # 63368, the barrel date is 52, a little later than anticipated.
My other model 75 is serial # 4127 barrel date is 38.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Tom
tom in michigan said
JWA,I pulled the stock on serial # 63368, the barrel date is 52, a little later than anticipated.
My other model 75 is serial # 4127 barrel date is 38.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the date info!
Best Regards,
.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
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