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Winchester, Model 37 - Wood

Canoelover
Contrary to what is assumed by many who cherish the Winchester, Model 37 (single shot), the wood used by Winchester was NOT always walnut. I have examined several Mod-37's and found some were all walnut, while others had walnut buttstocks & non-walnut forearms, while still others had non-walnut stocks AND forearms. The finishes were made to look like walnut, but a close examination of the wood will reveal otherwise in many examples of this model. I suspect that Winchester probably started out using walnut, but then switched to a cheaper wood as the years went by. Can anyone confirm this, and, if so, can you tell me what wood was used and when the substitution took place? Since these guns were not serial-numbered, it might be possible to at least get a rough date of manufacture, based on the wood in the forearm and stock. The wood looks a little like cherry, but it is too light...not sure what wood it is, as it does not appear to be native to my area (Northeastern U.S.).

Thanks...!
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Date Votes
  • Canoelover
    ...Forgot to mention that I am talking ONLY about the Model 37 (made from 1936-1963), not about the 37-A, which was a cheaper version, made in Canada, and is a completely different animal...
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  • yellowdog52
    I believe it's called gumwood. common on Win. .22's and single barrel shotguns. also used on some 94's I think.
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  • Canoelover
    ...Mystery solved...! Thank you, Yellowdog52...!!!

    That explains why I didn't recognize the wood! Sweetgum is native to the Southeast. I must admit, it is an attractive hardwood, with a nice tight grain, and lovely figure. Of course, it doesn't have the dark rich color of walnut, but it does appear to be just as strong and stable for gunstocks. Considering that the Model 37 sold for only about $35.00 around 1960, I can see why Winchester wanted to cut costs where they could. Still, the question remains: WHEN did they start to substitute sweetgum for walnut? An answer to that would at least allow one to date the 37 to a period...

    Thanks again...!
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  • tocamoha
    I've had 3 37's and none of them had forearms.They all had fore ends.
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  • Canoelover
    Yes, indeed..!

    I just received a cortizone shot in my foreARM for tendonitis, and have been saying 'forearm' for the past week...man it's hell to get old..!

    Thanks for pointing that out...!
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  • yellowdog52
    Just a guess but walnut was in high demand during ww2. Maybe thats when they used the gumwood?
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  • Canoelover
    That certainly makes sense...!
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  • 4205raymond
    Canoelover,I want to say mid to late fifties on the fake walnut.Usually if you see a high spur hammer and a straight line Winchester buttplate it will be what I call fake walnut.Once in a while you see a high spur hammer with a round logo Winchester buttpad that has the real walnut.Otherwise, I stay far,far away unless they are mint or NIB.God they are awful to fudge a flaw!
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  • Fatstrat
    My brother has my Dad's old Red Letter M-37. Purchased new for him in the 1930's by my great grandfather. If it has Walnut stocks, it sure is a light colored walnut.
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  • 4205raymond
    Fatstrat,just curious.I assume it is a pigtail Red Letter.Was it ever stripped and refinished or stocks replaced.Does pistol grip have full oval and is buttplate round Winchester logo? Forend is a bullnose?Buttstock with the Winchester curve?
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