Bert H. said
The 20″ barreled Model 64s are very common through the year 1950. After 1950, they are very uncommon.  Thus far I have documented (460) 20″ Model 64 rifles in my research survey.  Of that number, (376) are pre-War, with the remaining (76) being post-War, and just (10) found after the year 1950.

The current estimated total production for the 20″ variant is 9,350 (14% of the total Model 64 production).

Bert

  

Bert, wasn’t there a meeting of Winchester’s Forward Planning Committee occurring very late in WWII, at which a number of proposals were made up and submitted to John Olin, recommending changes to the company’s firearms line?  I seem to recall one recommendation was to eliminate the Model 64 entirely because it was only a modest seller. Olin disagreed and the Model 64 was kept in the line.  

I wonder if this was when the decision was made to drop the 20″ barrel version from further (postwar) production and later from the catalog when parts inventories were exhausted.

I know that was the decision made with respect to the Model 1907 and yet there are 07 serials occurring up through the mid-Fifties, at least. To me, this would indicate a fairly large inventory of .351 parts to consume at the end of the War. As we know, WRA never threw anything away. 

Whereas, by 1950 there were few short M64 barrels left to assemble. 

Somewhere there are committee meeting minutes. Maybe in Herb’s company history is where I saw them. 

Nice gun Burt. That’s a beauty!!

Zebulon said

RickC said

Nice gun Burt. That’s a beauty!!

  

I concur; it’s as nice as I’ve ever seen.

One thing that strikes me about this Model 64 is the shape and appearance of the forearm, which is closer to a semi-beavertail than the skinny one on the short M64 I once owned, which someone, perhaps Col. Whelen, criticized as resembling the handle of a pickle fork.

Perhaps these later versions of the M64 “carbine” hang on target better with more Walnut up front. I’ve not handled one, much less shot one. I will say for me there’s a World of difference shooting my 1949 long-barreled Deer Rifle offhand compared to my late, unlamented 1939 shorty. Both .30WCF. 

Of course, if Bert were to experience remorse I didn’t have one like his and offered it for a song, the loud sound would be the sonic boom created when I raced to get it in my locker. 

  

Here is another nice 64 – on the opposite end of the barrel spectrum as they (219 Zipper) were produced with a 26 inch barrel – definite difference in the way it feels to shoulder a 20″ versus a 26″.

Burt Humphrey said

RickC said

Sweet geezis Burt. You never cease to amaze. Fabulous collection!

  

That 64 carbine was a Don Grove gun – original and correct in every respect – real nice gun even if it is 32 WS. I bought the gun from Don in the mid 80’s shortly after he moved to Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast. He wanted $1200 for the gun but after I drank his beer and BS’d for about 3 hours with him matching me beer for beer, he settled for $900 plus gave me a room at his house for the night – those were the days. The Zipper came from a guy in South Dakota named Jim Aplan – 50 years back Jim handled some of the best Winchesters – like Don, Jim is now deceased.

  

Thanks for sharing Burt. I spoke to Don about a year before his passing. Sadly I never got to meet him in person but great memory and story.