steff said
For years, my motto has been, “You have to buy things when they’re available, not when you need them.” If I find parts for Winchester anywhere, I buy them, and that approach has served me very well over the past 20 years. There’s nothing better than needing a part and realizing you bought it 10 years ago just in case.
In my experience, you forget the price you paid within a few weeks—but you remember the missed opportunity for decades.
  

So true.

I have done the same thing with with parts for rifles I own (or one day hope to own) and that policy has allowed me to complete several rifles that were missing important bits.

Well done!

BRP

steff said
For years, my motto has been, “You have to buy things when they’re available, not when you need them.” 

In my experience, you forget the price you paid within a few weeks—but you remember the missed opportunity for decades.
  

Very true on both statements!

Best Regards,

In my experience, you forget the price you paid within a few weeks—but you remember the missed opportunity for decades.

You are one very lucky guy!  It is so gratifying to see something put back together as it once was.  And to have all the necessary parts in your spare parts kit makes it even sweeter. Now, go shoot that little beauty!

BRP

I am very, very cheap myself....I should move to Germany.

Best Regards,

Unfortunately, $2,500 is completely out of the question here in Europe. But I’m very happy that I was able to restore the rifle to its original condition. By the way, it has a crosshair reticle.

The package also included a small M1900. With this addition, my .22 caliber repeating rifle collection now includes a 1900, 02, 02A, 67, 677, 68, 69A, and 72.

There are still a few missing, but they’re very hard to find here in Germany. But if you find one, they're very, very cheap.

Best regards

Steff

You should buy a lottery ticket, 5.33" is the correct spacing for your 2-3/4X scope!

That means your rifle originally shipped as a G67760R with 2-3/4X scope with crosshairs or a G67766R with 2-3/4X scope with a post reticle.

You now own about a $2500+ hard to find Model 67 variation - Congrats!

Best Regards,

P.S. The bases that were on the 74 in your picture are not Winchester bases.

I didn't buy the M74 back then. Just the scope and the mounting blocks. They're much lower and don't have any markings.

Eyeballing it, it looks like your block separation is correct for a 2 3/4X scope, but if your scope is a 5X, it should work just fine functionally - adjustments will be a bit coarser - even though not "correct" for the rifle.

The blocks for these scopes are about 0.60" wide, which is wider than the usual width for Unertl, Fecker, Lyman STS, etc.  Sometimes (usually with a shim) they can be tightened to fit a Unertl-style block, which may be why the front mount screw is sticking out a bit.  If you still have your M74, you should go back & check what blocks were used.

You lucky dog!  That is one of the correct scopes for the 677.  You just need to double down on your luck and hope it is the right power for your rifle.  The lengths of the scopes are mentioned in the 69 book chapter so you can measure it and determine the power.  When you measure your mounting block spacing that will tell you the power of scope that was originally on your 677.  If your blocks are spaced 7.76" (center to center) then your rifle had a 5X.  If they are closer together it had the 2-3/4X scope.

Best Regards,

I found a rifle scope in my spare parts cabinet that was once mounted on an M74. Could this be the right one?

The letter "A" stamped in your stock is an inspection stamp.  They were typically a single digit letter or number (depending upon the model and vintage).

You are correct, Winchester made the scope mounting rings but not the actual scope.  While the front ring is marked Winchester, the scopes (made by Carolyn and Saymon-Brown) do not have any markings for the 5x or 2 3/4x which were supplied on the 677. 

If you have the book "The Winchester Model 69 - Evolution in Design" there is a whole chapter devoted to the scopes and mounts and great pictures of the scope you are looking for.  

The first thing you need to do is measure the CtC distance between the base holes, that will tell you if you need the 2 3/4x or 5x scope (they are different lengths).

Best Regards,

There is a mark engraved on the inside of the stock that looks like a V or an A. What does that mean?

Does the matching scope have any distinctive markings so I can recognize it if I ever come across one? They weren't made by Winchester, were they?

Best regards

Steff

btbell said
Pretty sure those are #6 bases (0.5" & 0.6" CtC hole spacing).
(and I've still got an extra of the 0.6" #6 bases, if someone wants to trade for a 0.5" #6 base...)
  

Yes, you are certainly correct!  The #6 bases were the same height as the #8 (.250) but the hole spacing is different.  They would be correct for the early 677.  Good catch!

Best Regards,

(and I've still got an extra of the 0.6" #6 bases, if someone wants to trade for a 0.5" #6 base...)