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Win 70 Prewar 220 Swift

Dokey
I just acquired a Winchester 70 220 Swift today. It has a standard barrel. The serial number 44xxx puts it at 1942, but the date code on the barrel is 37 and what's odd is the barrel looks factory blued , not like the frosted looking finish one would see on the stainless barrels.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    Need quality photos of the rifle. For accurate identification and valuation.


    Your specific question(s) regarding the rifle. Would also be appreciated.
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  • CapnMidnight
    If your question is, why does a 1942 vintage model 70 have a 1937 barrel? The answer is that most of the 220 Swift barrels made, where made in 1937. This is true with several other uncommon calibers for the model 70. There where only 19,932 220 Swift's produced.
    What I'm saying is, when they set up to run a certain caliber, they ran a bunch of them, some times it took years to use them up.
    W.D.
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  • 11b6r
    And in 1942, there was a war going on.
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  • Bert H.
    The early 220 Swift barrels were made with the Proof Steel alloy versus stainless steel. Consequently, they were blued the same as all of the other calibers.

    Serial number 44416 was the last one through the Polishing Room on December 2nd, 1941. The rifle you are looking at was undoubtedly serialized (manufactured) in late November or early December of 1941.
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  • seewin
    That seem's way too late a gun for a chrome moly barrel. Do the proof's line up correctly? I have owned several Swifts prior to that number, and they all had Stainless barrels. I still own #185XX, and 245XX, and both of those have '38 dated Stainless barrels.
    Steve
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  • MG1890
    I'd be looking close at the bolt stop, mag box & follower. Sounds like a rebarrel to me.

    Since the small parts match, and with Bert's comments, you probably have an original rifle.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by seewin
    That seem's way too late a gun for a chrome moly barrel. Do the proof's line up correctly? I have owned several Swifts prior to that number, and they all had Stainless barrels. I still own #185XX, and 245XX, and both of those have '38 dated Stainless barrels.
    Steve


    Steve,

    I was thinking the same thing, but then considered the possibility that it was a parts clean-up barrel used to wrap up pre-war production. The 44xxx serial number makes it a December 1941 production receiver/action versus 1942.
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  • Dokey
    The serial number is 44603 and the bolt is numbered to the gun. Also the bolt stop, mag box (with the baffle) and follower are correct for the swift
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Dokey
    The serial number is 44603 and the bolt is numbered to the gun. Also the bolt stop, mag box (with the baffle) and follower are correct for the swift


    That positively makes it an early December 1941 vintage receiver. Without the benefit of actually examining the rifle, I have no reason to suspect that the 1937 barrel is not original to the rest of the rifle. Like W.D., I have seen at least a few 1937 Proof Steel (chrome moly) barrels on later pre-war actions.
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  • Dokey
    Thank you Bert PM sent
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