Model 40|Winchester Shotguns|Forum|Winchester Collector

Hello George,

Good to hear back from you so quickly.

I used to regularly run ads in the COLLECTOR “wanted” section about my two “addictions” (Model 40’s and Model 12 Heavy Duck’s), but fell asleep and they got dropped.  Here is the latest iteration:

“M-40 SHOTGUN:  Seeking information on early s/n examples (below #7), late s/n examples (above #13568), 30” MOD example, Skeet Grade example with bright aluminum alloy Cutts, also boxes, paperwork, etc.  “M-40 talk” – phone  pen pals welcomed!  Please tell me about your Model 40 for my example census (s/n and barrel length/choke:  146 examples thus far noted since beginning in 1995). Greg Dockter #4307, 701.400.GREG(4734) or [email protected].”

I would be very interested in learning details of your example to add to my census listing. 

Weekday mornings work best for telephone calls.

Bolt spring tube breakage is the second-most common ailment (most common problem is magazine-spring tube breakage).  Both render the gun useless; magazine-spring tube breakage is more serious as the three pieces separate, with the barrel assembly hurtling down-range, leaving the shooter holding the forearm/magazine-spring tube in one hand and the receiver in the other hand – I’ve interviewed an elderly gentleman to whom this occurred shortly after he purchased the gun in question brand new in 1940!).

Bolt spring tubes are extremely scarce and difficult to find.  Occasionally a complete trigger assembly turns up on eBay with one intact.  A better solution might be to watch for a donor gun to cannibalize for the needed part.  A Field model example just went out on GunBroker October 29th with a $205 hammer price (ignore the lengthy description – many “urban legend myths” repeated therein).

Although I’ve never seen a Model 40 with a factory red Winchester patent date pad, I’ve never had reason to doubt that they were available as an option.  Given the butt stock construction with the complex boring and routing shapes and blind “butt plate screw block” (Component Parts catalog terminology – see attached pictures), attaching a pad could be problematic.  Although I’ve been a WACA member since 1996, I’m a “newbie” to this Forum – bear with my while I try and attach some pictures showing this butt stock complexity.

Again, a butt stock occasionally appears on eBay, or acquisition of a donor gun might furnish both needed parts for your example.

Deer season opens here in North Dakota this Friday noon.  My wife and I usually pack up the decoys and let the deer hunters have at it (while we were working we were so jealous of “marsh-time” that we donned hunter orange to wear in the blind, but since retirement we get enough “marsh-time” in during the weeks before deer opener…. – albeit our season this year was cut shore by an unusually early 8-1/2″ snow storm last week…..).  Enjoy your deer camp time – we can catch up after deer season…..

Off Forum I will send you a rather large file of Model 40 information (introduction advertisement, marketing brochure,instruction brochure, period catalog excerpts, Component Parts catalog excerpts, etc.

[email protected] a good address to use?

Your comment regarding “….beautiful gun…..” gets my attention.  I too subscribe to your philosophy.  My avatar picture shows me shooting one at the Wimbledon Open (registered NSSA at Wimbledon ND – one of only two Wimbledon place names in the world – ours too has tennis courts!). 

The machine work on this model is fantastic.  Inspect the front sight:  It is an integral part of the barrel, milled right onto end of the barrel!  Note the bolt handle, with checkering on both forward and reverse surfaces.  Lots of other nuances as well…..

Later,

Model 40 “nut” Greg