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Model 37 Winchester ----------Wierd

4205raymond
Ok you Winchester experts, about a year ago I bought a Red Letter 20ga that had full on the barrel and had the barrel lug milled out on the right side where the first two extractor pins are. I assumed that maybe a gunsmith did this because he could not drive out extractor pins seized on right side. Since then I have seen two more Red Letters that were done exactly the same way. Has to be a Winchester thing. Don't know why they did this because you can't get a good solid lockup with locking block in "V" of barrel lug on right side. To see what I am refering to, see auction #205150773 picture number 16. Any ideas why Winchester did this? Thank you.
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  • 4205raymond
    Henry,you have the correct picture. On the left side of barrel lug in picture the lug is milled out and the pins are sticking up,notice the radius to the right. This whole area should be flat and smooth just like other side of barrel lug. You can't see from picture but when you look straight at chamber and "V" in lug about two thirds of right side of barrel lug are missing, preventing a good solid lockup.
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  • givette
    Schematic drawing below does not show the cutaway area as in the photo supplied by Henry. It shows two notches on the rear of the lug, one on each side. My read is that the firearm in the photo has had the right rear portion of the lug removed. That you noticed the same work on your own Model 37 strongly suggests that the lug area was (is?) prone to problems.

    Winchester_37_schem.jpg
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  • 4205raymond
    Givette,thanks for your reply.I have same schematic along with others. I agree that this is/was a problem area. Was a machinist early in life(67 now) The three Model 37's that I have seen that were milled out,look exactly the same(of course I can't get at them with mike/calipers).Most gunsmiths/machinist do things a little different,hence I think it is an occassional Winchester modification. Don't know why it was done. Would like to write a book on the 37 someday.Wish a former Winchester employee would crawl out of the woodwork on this one!
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  • Knifecollector
    I've got several 37's. I'll take a look at them after the gun show today and report back what I find.
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  • givette
    quote:Originally posted by 4205raymond
    Givette,thanks for your reply.I have same schematic along with others. I agree that this is/was a problem area. Was a machinist early in life(67 now) The three Model 37's that I have seen that were milled out,look exactly the same(of course I can't get at them with mike/calipers).Most gunsmiths/machinist do things a little different,hence I think it is an occassional Winchester modification. Don't know why it was done. Would like to write a book on the 37 someday.Wish a former Winchester employee would crawl out of the woodwork on this one!


    Rather than perform individual [read: labor intensive] gunsmithing services on a model found to have a design flaw, Winchester would have had a general recall on the line, or at least the barrel assemblies.

    My read is that the handiwork has been done somewhere else than New Haven. The closest you will get to 'factory' when it comes to the work I witnessed in Henry's photo is if it was done by a gunsmith authorized to perform warranty services (highly unlikely).

    But, hey..'ya never know! Best again, Joe
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  • 4205raymond
    Givette,Thanks again. Makes sense that Winchester would farm it out to same gunsmith. Whatever, it was a very poor fix because it weakens the lockup. Driving me crazy because I can't figure out why repair was done!
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  • stankemp
    My 37, in long and faithful service in the family, does not have the milled area on the lug. It locks up very well. Maybe this fix was on a run of out of spec breech locks or a pronounced projection on the lug that needed elimination?
    Regardless, the 37 is a slim, good handling classic with superior pointing qualities. I really only stopped shooting it because my shoulders can't take the recoil anymore (hunting loads).
    Stan
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  • 4205raymond
    Stankemp,thanks for your reply. I am 68 and my right shoulder still hurts from Dad's Model 37 12Ga. Only complaint I ever had on the 37.
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  • 4205raymond
    Been almost six years and I received another one of these weird 37 Winchesters from Colorado today.Sorry I can't provide picture but will try to get with learning curve when I can.Barrel lug is milled out exactly like other four I have seen.I am convinced that modification was done by Winchester.Anyone know why modification was done? Thanks.---Ray
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