Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
I located a model 72 straight bolt, non-groved trigger, with front sight and rear leaf sight. It has 4 holes drilled and tap for previous scope bases, I believe.
The WP marks are not offset as if rifle was made for a scope, so my question is, “Were M72 drilled and tapped by the factory?”
$450 for a 80% gun (excluding impact of drilled holes).
Thoughts.
November 7, 2015
Offline
I believe the 72’s accommodations for telescopic sights consisted of a grooved receiver.
Mike
bryan fleck said “Were M72 drilled and tapped by the factory?”
Some made before 1941 were offered with scopes (discontinued in ’41), but I’d assume they’d have the offset proofs. Have the scope blocks been removed?
Clarence is correct, the Model 72 catalog numbers G7250R, G7251R, G7252R, G7253R, G7254R and G7260R were all drilled and tapped by Winchester for scopes and were offered from 1938 through 1941. On the majority of them the proofs should be offset to the side and never covered by the mount.
$450 seems steep for a non-factory D&T 72 but cheap if it is one of the models listed above. Pictures of the mounts and barrel proof (if visible) would help.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Clarence is correct, the Model 72 catalog numbers G7250R, G7251R, G7252R, G7253R, G7254R and G7260R were all drilled and tapped by Winchester for scopes and were offered from 1938 through 1941. On the majority of them the proofs should be offset to the side and never covered by the mount.
Are the brls dated on these? Or any other way to determine if built before or after ’41?
Yes, the barrels were dated on some of them but not all. If it was assembled after 1941 it would have the post-war style stock but I have never seen a post-war factory D&T’d Model 72 since Winchester sold everything they had remaining that could have a scope mounted on it to the British Home Guard in 1941. That included the dual sight 67, 68, 69, 72 and even the 74 along with the remaining scopes that they had in inventory.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Yes, the barrels were dated on some of them but not all. If it was assembled after 1941 it would have the post-war style stock but I have never seen a post-war factory D&T’d Model 72 since Winchester sold everything they had remaining that could have a scope mounted on it to the British Home Guard in 1941. That included the dual sight 67, 68, 69, 72 and even the 74 along with the remaining scopes that they had in inventory.
Well, that’s an incredible story! Home Guardsmen repelling invaders with .22s! If it was mentioned in the 69 book, I missed it.
It is in fact a great story but I did not mention it in the Model 69 book. However, there is a book that is being published now by Malcom Atkin about the British Home Guard and the role of the .22 rifle for patrol use. A couple of my Model 69 pictures will be in it. Many of the .22’s were fitted by Parker-Hale with suppressors also. Check out his website here: https://www.mwatkin.com/
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks all. The proof marks are not on the centerline but are closer to centerline than to the wood stock. Also the first 2 holes are on the rear side of the bolt opening and the other two are forward, so distnace between two groups of holes is <4.5″ It does not have scope mounts attached.
JWA said
It is in fact a great story but I did not mention it in the Model 69 book. However, there is a book that is being published now by Malcom Atkin about the British Home Guard and the role of the .22 rifle for patrol use. A couple of my Model 69 pictures will be in it. Many of the .22’s were fitted by Parker-Hale with suppressors also. Check out his website here: https://www.mwatkin.com/Best Regards,
That chapter should be entitled “Hysteria on the Home Front.”
November 7, 2015
Offline
I have read of Israeli snipers using accurized and suppressed .22’s to “knee cap” belligerents to take them out of the fight. As we know, a wounded combatant often takes 2-3 people out of the fight and a well-hidden sniper could be an effective tool in many situations. I can imagine they may be borrowing some tactics from the Home Guard.
Mike
bryan fleck said
Thanks all. The proof marks are not on the centerline but are closer to centerline than to the wood stock. Also the first 2 holes are on the rear side of the bolt opening and the other two are forward, so distnace between two groups of holes is <4.5″ It does not have scope mounts attached.
Based on the mount behind the breech opening it is not factory D&T’d. Winchester installed the rear mount on the front receiver ring on the Model 72.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Based on the mount behind the breech opening it is not factory D&T’d. Winchester installed the rear mount on the front receiver ring on the Model 72.
Recently saw early 52 with rear block in same location, built before blocks became standard; impossible to know if factory installation. But rear blocks were also attached to the ring on 1903 sniper rifles equipped with A5 scopes. A better location, seems to me, because it would have provided better support to the tube, would have been the bridge, but it was never done that way. Rear blocks were also attached to the ring on all the M1922 variants.
thank you. where would the front scope mount have been, 1 or 2 holes? this has the rear leaf sight. appreciate it, i will assume not winchester D&T.
bryan fleck said
thank you. where would the front scope mount have been, 1 or 2 holes? this has the rear leaf sight. appreciate it, i will assume not winchester D&T.
Factory scope mounts for this model were for target-type scopes, such as the company was selling at this time. But the mount spacing on this gun would make use of such a scope highly unlikely. What was probably installed on this gun was a mount intended for an internally adjustable scope, & because there were several different companies making them, figuring out which one was used would be a puzzle; too bad it was removed.
So just to close the loop, the “pawn shop” wants $439 and will not budge on a 90% wood, 85% blue win72 (not 72A)…forearm 2.5″ from loading port, smooth trigger, straight (not swept) bolt, non-solid lifter, nice bore, but it does have 4 holes on fore and after of chamber on top of receiver. I suppose I am sharing price point for knowledge. I am in Southern California so with tax and $37 dros fee, I will be at $515 out the door. Thank you for all the input…it is only the 2nd one I seen out here in two years …the other one being $300 with a bolt that gets stuck and a 2″ toe chip out of stock.
bryan fleck said
So just to close the loop, the “pawn shop” wants $439 and will not budge on a 90% wood, 85% blue win72 (not 72A)…forearm 2.5″ from loading port, smooth trigger, straight (not swept) bolt, non-solid lifter, nice bore, but it does have 4 holes on fore and after of chamber on top of receiver. I suppose I am sharing price point for knowledge. I am in Southern California so with tax and $37 dros fee, I will be at $515 out the door. Thank you for all the input…it is only the 2nd one I seen out here in two years …the other one being $300 with a bolt that gets stuck and a 2″ toe chip out of stock.
I hate cock-on-closing actions & wouldn’t consider it for that reason. But being in Cally means most out of state dealers won’t ship to you, so your options are restricted, unless you’re able to travel. A hard choice.
1 Guest(s)
