WTB Winchester 56 or 57 receiver|Winchester Swap Meet|Forum|Winchester Collector

Roger,

I hesitated to respond earlier because your intended project requires a lot of additional questions and answers.

There are actually 2 primary types of 56/57 receivers, those with the early front receiver of 1.00″ in length and the later front receiver length of 1.10″.  That transition occurred in December of 1930 and required additional changes to the barrel to accommodate the updated receivers.  Since those changes occurred partway through the Stainless Steel barrel option period some of the stainless barrels fit the early receivers and some stainless barrels fit the later receivers.  They are not really interchangeable without some additional machining of the barrel extractor slots (among other things).

If you know the serial number of the receiver you are intending to replace that would be helpful as the receiver and barrel change occurred around serial number 22960.

If your stainless barrel has a date on the underside that would help also, ’30 or earlier is the early style receiver and barrel.  ’31 could be either early or late and ’32 and later is the late style barrel.

Also, FWIW, the early Model 69 is almost identical except it does not have a serial number and does not have the slight groove at the rear for the aperture clearance.  Other than that they are completely interchangeable with the late style 56/57 barrels/receivers.  

I believe BRP has given you the best advice about purchasing a parts rifle but you need to check which version barrel you have before buying a donor rifle.

Good luck with your project.

Best Regards,

ROGER lane said
I’am old but i’am still learning JWA on Winchester 22s it has a barrel stamp of “38”   

And I am still learning as well, I did not know there were ’38 dated Stainless Steel barrels, the latest I have ever seen on a 56/57 has been a ’32.  I will add that tidbit to my notes.  Thanks!

Just to be certain, are you sure it is ’38 and/or are you sure it is a Stainless Steel barrel (and marked “Stainless Steel” on the roll-marking)?

So, if it is a ’38 barrel you need the later (1.10″) style receiver.  Your donor receiver should be above serial number 23,000.

Best Regards,

ROGER lane said
I’am old but i’am still learning JWA on Winchester 22s it has a barrel stamp of “38” 

  

Roger,

Are you 100% certain that is stamped “38” ?  The reason I ask, is that Winchester stopped manufacturing S.S. barrels several years before 1938, and it would have been highly unlikely to manufacture a barrel on special order in the Depression years for a Model 56/57.  Can you send me a clear picture of the barrel and the date stamp?

Bert

ROGER lane said
Bert just sent pics of the 56 to your email let me know what you think thanks Roger

  

The date stamp on the barrel is actually “28” versus “38”, which make much better sense in light of the fact that Winchester manufactured the S.S. barrels in the 1926 – 1932 time period.

Bert