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This is my first post and I am not sure how to address this question. I am trying to better understand the production period of the 30 WCF. So far everything I have read has the time frame from 1928 to 1930 or at least that is when it was listed in the Winchester catalogs. I have a standard rifle, serial number 37294A which puts it into 1932. The barrel is stamped on the bottom next to the receiver with the numeral 28 which I am taking as the year the barrel was manufactured. This ties in with the published manufacturing period of 1928-1930. So, if the rifle chambered in 30 WCF was only manufactured through 1930 how did it end up with a 1932 serial number? Any help is appreciated. Thanks for reading.
September 9, 2011
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Maybe I don’t understand your question, but since it’s inception, the .30WCF has always been chambered in the Model 1894/94. It was chambered in rifles to the end of production and continued in carbines. Or, do you mean when the stamping was changed from .30WCF to .30-30?
The Winchester I am asking the question about is the Model 54, bolt action rifle. Sorry for the confusion and let me know if this is posted in the wrong place.
June 24, 2010
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The barrel would have been in stock and they placed it on the gun. The production date stamped on barrel is when barrel was placed into bin. This was at the start of the great depression. Sales were not as brisk as projected when the barrels were produced.
Thanks for the info. At what stage was the serial numbers applied? When the receiver was built or when the receiver, barrel, and the remaining parts were assembled and sold? I know the .30 WCF in bolt action was slow seller. I appreciate your help.
Ted
April 15, 2005
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Ted,
When the receiver was manufactured.
Bert H.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
October 27, 2012
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The M54 was listed in the catalogs much later than you indicated (1930)– certainly it was in the catalogs through 1936. The M70 replaced the M54 and wasn’t available until January 1937. The M54 was catalogued until then and was actually available for several more years. If customers wanted M54s the factory would furnish them during the early years following the M70s introduction.
Sorry. I was referring only to the model 54 chambered in .30 WCF as being offered for approximately 2 years in the catalog, 1928 to 1930. Most of my research indicates the model 54 in general was manufactured from 1925 through 1937 with a very few stragglers over the next several years to 1941.
My original question dealt with my 54 in .30 WCF having a barrel stamped in 28, which fits nicely with the 28 to 30 time-frame, but also having a receiver serial number which date to 1932. Your answers confirmed my own suspicion that Winchester probably overestimated the demand for the .30 WCF based on the popularity of the lever actions in that caliber and built too many barrel too quickly.
Thanks for all of your comments. It’s helps me I gain more knowledge about the Winchesters. The only reference books I have been able to find are The Winchester Handbook by Madis and Winchester Model 94 by Renneberg. If you know of more good ones I would appreciate knowing about them.
Ted
April 15, 2005
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The Model 70 rifle was available in early 1936 versus 1937. It simply was not yet cataloged until Janaury 1937.
Per the Polishing Room records examined by Roger Rule, serial number "1" was manufactured January 20th, 1936. By December 12th, 1936, a total of 3,406 Model 70 receivers had been completed. By the end of the day on January 6th, 1937, serial number 4045 was recorded.
A friend of mine has serial number 461, and it has a "36" marked barrel on it.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
October 27, 2012
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The best available information indicates that while M70s were manufactured all during 1936, Winchester did not offer them for sale until January 1937.
In Roger Rule’s book (Page 40) he wrote: "On the 14th day of that same month (January) the warehouse received its first inventory and by the end of the year (1936) there were 2,238 rifles awaiting distribution for the January 1, 1937 release date."
Further (Page 188): "The catalog (1936) listed six styles and only six caliber offerings, while admonishing that the rifle would not be available until "after January 1, 1937.""
I conclude that while orders were received and completed rifles were in inventory all during 1936, none were delivered until after January 1st, 1937.
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