Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Rifles

TXGunNut on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:37:48 +0000

Gunsnfishin said

Henry Mero said
These 2 must have traveled down the line together

Very close - been great if it was 1673

Interesting that they left the warehouse on July 30 and 31, different order numbers.

Mike

Louis Luttrell on Prewar 1937 Model 70 22 Hornet Carbine - bird in hand!

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:35:16 +0000

Hi All-

Here's a bit of trivia for you... Winchester DID mess with the idea of a short action pre-64 M70... TWICE... But neither one made it into production...

First was the "Model 80", a rifle intended to compete with the Remington M722. Very different action design, more like the Remington, with a receiver made from a piece of pipe, but something they could sell cheaper than the M70. Even John Olin expressed concern that it would simply cut into M70 sales, and the product died... I have the JMO comments, they're available via CFM, and there are three M80 prototypes in the CFM collection. So it was "real"...

The more "interesting" story was that Winchester designed (and built) a "short" pre-64 M70 action... It wasn't exactly optimized for 22 Hornet, it was designed around 222 Remington (and would fit 257 ROBERTS and 308 WIN). Pure pre-64 M70 CRF action, just shorter by about 3/4-inch...

I recently acquired, courtesy of Pauline Muerrle, blueprints of the short "222 REM" action, Featherweight contour barrel, and 222 REM Featherweight roll die. Moreover, they actually build a couple short action R&D rifles, so paper DID get translated into steel... You cannot "fake" one of these w/o making a M70 receiver from scratch, so I'm not too worried about mentioning this, but next time you see a "super rare" 222 REM (or 257 ROBERTS) Featherweight at auction (or on-line), gimme a PM...

Wha'Cha'Think???

Lou

epoletna on 1892 Winchester 73 in 32 WCF First Rifle Purchase Please comment

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:30:03 +0000

I bouight my very firwt 1873 about 50 years ago from a small gun shop in southern CA. Very dirty, and when I cleaned it a little I concluded the shop owner left it dirty to cover some very evident problems: a lack of rifling in the barrel and a split barrel about the middle, as I recall. I took it back and the shop owner refused to give me my omey back, but gave me a nondescript Garand in exchange. That Garand was so twisted that the front sight had to be as far as possible to one side and the rear sight as far as possible in the other direction in order to hit as 12" target at 50 yards. I took that one back too and he gave me something else in exchange. I no longer remember what it was or how it shot, but I stopped visiting that shop.

Gunsnfishin on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:25:33 +0000

Henry Mero said
These 2 must have traveled down the line together

Very close - been great if it was 1673

Bert H. on Prewar 1937 Model 70 22 Hornet Carbine - bird in hand!

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:19:01 +0000

epoletna said
Edward: I agree about needing to make a shorter action for short cartridges in the M70. My M43 in .218 Bee has a trigger that is shameful. Sure wish I could put an aftermarket trigger on it.

Have you tried adjusting the trigger in your Model 43? The trigger in my Model 43 Hornet becamee much more mangagable after I used the adjustment screw to reduce the pull tension.

Bert

epoletna on Prewar 1937 Model 70 22 Hornet Carbine - bird in hand!

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:59:42 +0000

Edward: I agree about needing to make a shorter action for short cartridges in the M70. My M43 in .218 Bee has a trigger that is shameful. Sure wish I could put an aftermarket trigger on it.

Henry Mero on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:46:37 +0000

These 2 must have traveled down the line together

Gunsnfishin on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:13:27 +0000

Bert H. said

Gunsnfishin said

Bert H. said
Very nice! The fact that it is the last "true" first yeear production Model 1894 makes it all the more special.
It is one of the (292) documented 1st Variation Model 1894s in my research survey. Based on current survey results, there were an estimated (3,410) 1st Variation Model 1894s.
Bert


I have serial 3135 also - round barrel 38-55- she’s rough but a 10 o’clock screw gun


Do you have a Factory letter for it? I have it documented in my survey, but I do not have the associated dates and order number.

I will send it you when I get it I have about 10 guns to send for

Bert H. on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:09:16 +0000

Gunsnfishin said

Bert H. said
Very nice! The fact that it is the last "true" first yeear production Model 1894 makes it all the more special.
It is one of the (292) documented 1st Variation Model 1894s in my research survey. Based on current survey results, there were an estimated (3,410) 1st Variation Model 1894s.
Bert

I have serial 3135 also - round barrel 38-55- she’s rough but a 10 o’clock screw gun

Do you have a Factory letter for it? I have it documented in my survey, but I do not have the associated dates and order number.

Gunsnfishin on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:07:40 +0000

Bert H. said
Very nice! The fact that it is the last "true" first yeear production Model 1894 makes it all the more special.
It is one of the (292) documented 1st Variation Model 1894s in my research survey. Based on current survey results, there were an estimated (3,410) 1st Variation Model 1894s.
Bert

I have serial 3135 also - round barrel 38-55- she’s rough but a 10 o’clock screw gun

Bert H. on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 22:01:05 +0000

Very nice! The fact that it is the last "true" first yeear production Model 1894 makes it all the more special.

It is one of the (292) documented 1st Variation Model 1894s in my research survey. Based on current survey results, there were an estimated (3,410) 1st Variation Model 1894s.

Bert

Gunsnfishin on 94s

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 21:20:24 +0000

I made an auction buy today -1894 - 38-55- serial 1674- last gun made first year - I rate it very good condition - what’s everyone’s thoughts ? Guess at value ?

BillWyo on Question on Cody Letters and Browning Brothers Shipments

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 20:12:07 +0000

Bert, I will know after I receive the rifle. Will let you know. Thanks again; Bill

Edward Southgate on Prewar 1937 Model 70 22 Hornet Carbine - bird in hand!

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 16:18:26 +0000

Those are two beautiful rifles that anyone should be overproud to own . I always wished they would make a mini model 70 for those of us who love the Hornets , .218 Bee's and maybe even the .25-20 , .32-20 and .256 . I love my m43 but it is as everybody knows , slightly under built (engineered) and is prone to issues if you load hot and shoot much, though mine has passed a proofing that Winchester would not have put it through and was not harmed .

Congratulations to you both .

Louis Luttrell on Model 70. 1936 or 1937 ? #2318

Sun, 08 Nov 2026 00:12:09 +0000

Hi BriMac-

It looks like you may have an exceptional example. What is the caliber?

I have one sort of like it, s/n 2577, a 30 GOV'T'06. My earliest M70 Carbine... Like Bert said, the only "solid" DOM number is the PR date (b/c the records exist). Assembly date, sale date, ship date are all guesses if for no other reason than b/c Winchester did not use serialized receivers in numerical order...

What receiver sight is on your rifle? Maybe a Lyman 57W (not 57WJS)...

Lou