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January 20, 2023
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I’ve just been gifted a nice Model 37 16 gauge with a “choke” barrel and no apparent serial number. Ill post pix soon but not tonight or Saturday.
In the interim are there any particular physical characteristics that might let me ballpark the date range?
Roll marks include the expression “Steel Bilt” and the barrel and frame bear Winchester proof marks. The frame is blued, not case colored and the hammer is (or was) bright steel. Stock and forearm are dark straight grain Walnut and a deteriorated pad is on the butt.
An owner has thoughtfully added his Texas DL in 4 point scratching on the barrel. Mercifully unobtrusive. The trigger guard is bent steel, blued.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 20, 2023
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A couple of images.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
April 15, 2005
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Bill,
I suggest taking the forend stock off and checking the bottom of the barrel for a 2-digit year number.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 20, 2023
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Bert H. said
Bill,
I suggest taking the forend stock off and checking the bottom of the barrel for a 2-digit year number.
Bert
Thanks, will do.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 20, 2023
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An update. There is no date or date code anywhere on the barrel.
My friend who.gave me this Model 37 (because he is moving to an assisted living facility) believes his father bought the gun shortly after the close of WWII, before he could afford to buy the pump shotgun he used for the rest of his hunting days.
If he bought it used, it may be older than 1946 or 1947, although it is a 90% gun except for a flattened and distorted recoil pad of unreadable make, badly installed on the un-squared off wooden butt.
If anyone collects the Model 37, perhaps the “Steel Bilt” rollmark will ring a bell. Also the “Choke” rollmark, although I’d bet a donut that meant Full Choke since these guns were supposed to “shoot hard.”
It won’t be economic to do so, but I’m going to take it to Ron Gervase and have him install a solid red Sorbothane pad on it. The rest of this little 16 gauge is too nice not to do so and it would make a good teaching gun for somebody down the line.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Interesting little gun, Bill. Have always admired the simplicity and durability of these old guns. Reminds me of the old hardware store shotgun my grandfather had, mainly because that shotgun was rather poorly made by comparison. Also reminds me of a time when people bought what they could afford. I doubt a tastefully installed new recoil pad would have a negative effect on collector value and I can’t be certain finding the correct butt plate would help it much. The double-edged sword of what I call the “Fun Zone” of collectable Winchesters is that they don’t cost much; aren’t worth much. Good news is they’re always well made and a generally a good value if taken care of by previous custodians.
Mike
October 14, 2024
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That’s a nice little shotgun. Single barrels are fun to take out into the field. They’re so stinking light and fun to shoot.
January 20, 2023
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I haven’t looked it up in my 1956 Gun Digest for more than a half Century but I recall the Winchester 37 was noticeably more expensive than other single barrel break-open shotguns of that day. It was also just a bit sleeker than the rest and had a real Walnut stock.
Even though this is a 16 gauge, it is light enough to bite harder than a kid should have to endure. I’ve never regretted installing a good Pachmayr Decelerator on my son’s Light Twenty before presenting it to him and it has been a great shooter over the Decades. He prefers a Winchester 59 Versachoke 12 gauge these days but the Browning is in his locker for his own sons.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Zebulon said
I haven’t looked it up in my 1956 Gun Digest for more than a half Century but I recall the Winchester 37 was noticeably more expensive than other single barrel break-open shotguns of that day. It was also just a bit sleeker than the rest and had a real Walnut stock.
Even though this is a 16 gauge, it is light enough to bite harder than a kid should have to endure. I’ve never regretted installing a good Pachmayr Decelerator on my son’s Light Twenty before presenting it to him and it has been a great shooter over the Decades. He prefers a Winchester 59 Versachoke 12 gauge these days but the Browning is in his locker for his own sons.
I think a recoil pad has the added benefit of helping to ensure a more consistent mount and sometimes aids in adjusting the LOP. It’s a shame they aren’t very durable.
Mike
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