Winchester 74 22LR

wiz1997

June 04, 2016 19:21

I have two Winchester 74's project guns that I just completed.

I have been working on them one at a time and it wasn't until I placed them side by side that I noticed a difference.

The serial number puts the first one as being manufactured in 1946.

The second one in 1953.

Both are 22L.Rifle according to the barrel stamping.

What is different is the barrel length.

1946 is 24".

1953 is 22".

Question is: Was the rifle available in either barrel length during production or did the barrel length change at a certain date?

Thanks for the input.

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  charliemeyer007

  June 04, 2016 20:06

  They show 2 barrel lengths and the longer one in short.
  
  https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Rifles-42602/74-40346.htm?results=All

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  wiz1997

  June 04, 2016 20:19

  quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
  They show 2 barrel lengths and the longer one in short.
  
  https://www.gunpartscorp.com/Manufacturers/Rifles-42602/74-40346.htm?results=All
  
  
  I looked there at Numrich before I posted here and did see the different lengths.
  
  It didn't answer my question so I came here.
  
  Anyone have an answer? I'll keep looking.

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  wiz1997

  June 05, 2016 08:31

  Hoping someone might have a catalog from that time and could find out if the barrel length was an option or did Winchester change the length a a specific year.

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  wiz1997

  June 06, 2016 15:29

  Finally found the answer to my question.
  
  Between 1939 and 1946 the 22LR barrel only came in the 24" length.
  
  Between 1947 and the final year of manufacture 1953 the barrel length was shortened to 22", due to the popularity of the M1 Carbine's short barrel.

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  charliemeyer007

  June 06, 2016 15:31

  Thank you for posting the answer.

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