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Hi Guys,
A friend of mine gave me a Model 74 to see if I can sell for him. I checked the serial number and its first year gun 1939 and was full of mung and spot rust. After I carded it and cleaned the dirt and crap off it I have to say it looks pretty good although the stock had about 50% or less original finish the metal finish is much better. Its the first one I have ever encountered and doing a little research it seems it somewhat of an orphan child of Winchester.
I will take some pictures and post them here when I get a chance but I figured I would ask if anyone here had one or knew anything about the price range for one. I know that around 600 went to England in 1940 for training purposes (possibly the first semi auto to enter military service?). and some later .22LR ones had threaded barrels and British proof marks. I went on GI and prices range between the low $300 to around $700. I am not trying to estimate a value so much and to find out what the typical price range they tend to be.
Thanks,
Rob
Hi Rob,
You have pretty much answered your own question, the price range is about $250-$500 for nice condition standard models. The 74 with the 88A rear peep sight or the gallery version (with shell deflector) bring more, up to about $900-$1000 in excellent condition.
The Model 74 was in no way an “orphan child” of Winchester, the concept of which can be traced back to Bennett Winchester patents at the beginning of the 20th century with improvements by Burton. The Model 74 enjoyed a long production span from 1939-1955 and was replaced by the Model 77 semi-auto. Over 400,000 Model 74s were produced (more than the popular Model 69) and many are still around and functional which is pretty remarkable for a semi-auto.
Also, it was certainly not the first Winchester .22 semi-auto used for military purposes as that distinction belongs to the Winchester Model 1903 .22 semi-auto which was used by the U.S. Army in World War 1.
There were 5 different catalogued variations of the Model 74 offered, here is a brief synopsis –
| G7401R | Model 74 & Model 74A |
1939-1952 | .22 Automatic Rifle, Tubular Magazine, .22 Short, 75D Front Sight, Open Sporting 32B/32E Rear Sight | |
| G7402R | Model 74 & Model 74A |
1939-1955 | .22 Automatic Rifle, Tubular Magazine, .22 Long Rifle, 75D Front Sight, Open Sporting 32B/32E Rear Sight | |
| G7411R | Model 74 | 1939-1941 | .22 Automatic Rifle, Tubular Magazine, .22 Short, 75D Front Sight, Rear 88A Peep Sight | |
| G7412R | Model 74 & Model 74A |
1939-1951 | .22 Automatic Rifle, Tubular Magazine, .22 Long Rifle, 75D Front Sight, Rear 88A Peep Sight | |
| G7421R | Model 74 & Model 74A |
1939-1952 | .22 Automatic Rifle, Tubular Magazine, .22 Short Rifle, Gallery Special (with shell deflector), 75D Front Sight, Open Sporting 32B/32E Rear Sight |
There is not much published on the Model 74 but I am happy to try to answer any questions you may have.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Great info! much appreciated. This one has a peep sight but no deflector when I get home I will snap some pictures of it.
Rob
Robert Drummond Jr said
Great info! much appreciated. This one has a peep sight but no deflector when I get home I will snap some pictures of it.Rob
Pictures would be great! If it has the 88A peep sight mounted on the back of the bolt that will increase the value significantly. The value of the peep sight alone is around $200 (if you can even find one).
Here is what the 88A peep sight looks like –
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Hi Rob,
Thanks for the photos! That is a Winchester catalog number G7412R with the 88A rear peep. The rifle appears to be in good condition except the 88A peep sight is missing the aperture and it appears as if the hole in the elevation slide for the aperture has been enlarged, I don’t see the threads? Also, the elevation pointer and screw are missing from the 88A sight.
Other than that (and the most gummed-up bolt I have ever seen) it appears to be all original. Value range is between $400-$500 since the 88A is missing some parts and they are almost impossible to find.
If you are looking to sell it you can post in the “Winchester Swap Meet” section of this forum with your asking price and I am sure you will get some interest.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Big Larry said
JWA, no mention of the late rifles with the grooved receiver. Big Larry
I thought everyone already knew the last 10,000 had a grooved receiver for a tip-off scope? 
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Hi Jwa,
I knew the eye piece was missing I will have to look closer but I think there are threads albeit faint might need cleaning might have missed that I will check, Yes indeed that bolt was full of mung and dirt the picture was taken before I cleaned it. The fellow who owns it got it from his uncle in the 80’s and he used it to shoot rats and such but obviously never cleaned it. The outside of the gun was pretty much the same way.
He is interested in selling it but I will have to ask him before I put it up. I have reassembled the gun and thoroughly cleaned it but I have not tried to shoot it so I haven’t verified if it runs right yet. I asked the fellow who owns it if he ever saw the eye piece and he said he got it without it being in the gun.
Thanks,
Rob
Robert Drummond Jr said I asked the fellow who owns it if he ever saw the eye piece and he said he got it without it being in the gun.
With a little ingenuity, you can fit another aperture, even if the threads don’t match, & there are dozens available on ebay. (Usually sellers don’t know what they fit.)
The threads on the 88A are standard 7/32″-40 and most Lyman, Williams, etc. apertures will fit. You can also chase them with a #12-40 tap and use a Redfield aperture.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
I thought Redfield, Lyman and Williams all used 7/32-40 aperture threads. The only 12×40 thread I knew of was a Skinner. Marbles used a 10×32 know?
I got the 12-40 Redfield thread size info from Joe at Apertures N’ More as he makes replacements.
#12 = .21″ and 7/32″ = .21875 so they are very close, but not identical, the #12 being slightly smaller diameter but the same thread pitch.
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Finished work on this 74. The aperture was just missing, it was so dirty you could not see the threads, cleaned it out and put in a vintage Lyman I had. The only part missing was the elevation indicator screw, the head was missing and what was left was peaned over to hold the elevation spring steal. I filed off the pean, drilled out the shaft with a left hand 1/32 bit by hand, once the hole was clear, I ordered a Stainless 1/72 screw ( per Jeffery), 1/8 inch long, but it was still a bit long. Jeff said the pitch was Winchester proprietary. I tapped the hole to a true 1/72, blued the screw (fast a dirty fire blue) and put it all together. Rifle fires nice.
Steven Gabrielli said
Finished work on this 74. The aperture was just missing, it was so dirty you could not see the threads, cleaned it out and put in a vintage Lyman I had. The only part missing was the elevation indicator screw, the head was missing and what was left was peaned over to hold the elevation spring steal. I filed off the pean, drilled out the shaft with a left hand 1/32 bit by hand, once the hole was clear, I ordered a Stainless 1/72 screw ( per Jeffery), 1/8 inch long, but it was still a bit long. Jeff said the pitch was Winchester proprietary. I tapped the hole to a true 1/72, blued the screw (fast a dirty fire blue) and put it all together. Rifle fires nice.
Probably a $200 job for any gunsmith, IF they could figure out what needed to be done.
Gunsmiths around here charge $$ around here, if you can find a competent one. Cost me almost $400 to drill and tap an old Mauser 98 receiver, 4, holes, last month.
November 7, 2015
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Good gunsmiths are a rare commodity these days and in most cases they are well aware of it and charge accordingly. Not many getting rich working on guns and some repairs take a lot of time.
Mike
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