winchester model 40
Does anyone else love these old war clubs like I do ? I own several in Skeet Grade and Field Grade all as they came from the factory. They are in excellent condition and contrary to the internet slander these shotguns receive they shoot just fine. Recently I viewed one that might be a factory pigeon grade, it had a pigeon engraved in the outer trigger guard and the stock had a slightly fancier cut, also the barrel was redlined, and the Cutts compensator had a spreader. Its serial number is in the 11XXX range. The owner to their knowledge claim it is a factory model. It just might be, then again it just might not be. Any other Model 40 groupies feel free to add your input.
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Can anyone tell me why the model 40 had such a short lived production era? (1939-1942)What problems did it have? 0 -
greenhead welcome to the forum! Winchester made a Model 40. The first catelog that it appeared in was the July 1st 1940 price guide. This gun started manufacturing in 1939, and by late 1941 had stopped. This was Winchesters worst attempt to enter the Semi-auto shotgun market. They sent out a recall notice, and the notice said they could turn them in for a new Md 12. The gun came in a field grade and skeet grades. However since they were not all turned in, they have become somewhat of collectors item for the die hard Winchester fan. "Maddis" said there were about 19000 made, where "Stadt" says coser to 40,000, however he said Winchester scrapped out a lot of them too. I would tend to believe "Maddis" on the number that actually left the factory.
The value can range from a few hundred for a well used field gun, to well over a grand for a Skeet gun in mint condition.
THIS GUN IS A WALLHANGER, if you buy it, it is not recommended to shoot it. It had a poor recoil design, and is known to break the butt stock, and the Magazine tube will break free from the receiver.
Ref: material, Stadts (Winchester Shotguns & Shells" and Maddis
Regards Dave0 -
quote:Originally posted by only winchesters
This was Winchesters worst attempt to enter the Semi-auto shotgun market.
THIS GUN IS A WALLHANGER, if you buy it, it is not recommended to shoot it. It had a poor recoil design, and is known to break the butt stock, and the Magazine tube will break free from the receiver.
Ref: material, Stadts (Winchester Shotguns & Shells" and Maddis
Regards Dave
Dave... I do not disagree with you that the Model 40 was a serious problem child, but I do not agree that it was Winchester's worse attempt at the semi-auto scattergun market... that honor belongs to the Model 1911. At the very least, the Model 40 was better looking than the 1911[;)]. It took Winchester a very LONG time to recover from that TERRIBLE mistake of telling John Browning that his A-5 was not what the shooting public wanted, and not giving him the royalty deal he asked for.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Afternoon Bert: I will say that the Md 1911 S.L. was never recalled! Yes it too could be dangerous, I know Browning, with his patent on the cocking lever on the breech bolt, Winchester knurled the barrel so you would have a place to grab and cock. Unfortunately, the Md 1911 soon became known as the "Widow Maker" because when the safety was off it could and did fire at times. However it never blew apart like the Md 40 did!! In reality "Winchester" never did make a semi-auto that made it into the shot gunning world. The Md 50 was there best attempt, I have a few of those, very innovative with interchangeable barrels. But it couldn't compete with the Browning or new Remington 1100. So in reality, they never broke into that market. Winchesters claim to fame has always been levers and pumps. Those they knew how to make. Regards Dave 0 -
Thanks for the help guys I would like to know if it is possible to tell if the gun is what he says it is by the ser# I have not gone to see the gun yet but he did give the number to me and judging by some of the other guys it could be a collectors gun 0 -
greenhead: Like I said they made about 19000 of these. So if the serial number is 1-19000, that's may be an indication. The barrel is stamped Md 40, kind of hard to pass something off as a Md 40 if it's not. Look at item # 19785704 this is a just listed Md 40, this will show you. Regards Dave 0 -
the only collectible m-40's are skeet guns with pistol grips and cutts compensators. 0 -
make that...pistol grip caps....checkering, and cutts compensators. all other m-40s just had plain wood.[:)] 0 -
Actually bobski all Skeet guns came with the Cutts,(could be one of three styles of the Cutts, blued steel, aluminum in the white, or blackened aluminum) checkerd wood with a capped pistol grip. The rare ones would be on of the 29 that were ordered with Fancy stocks. They were basically field grade guns that had the skeet wood on them. But any Md 40 that is collectable condition, might be worth the investment. Regards Dave 0 -
agree. i was just trying to paint a picture for him as to what a skeet gun should look like. my personal experience is...if the gun is worn out, meaning looks shot, thats good. that means it didnt blow up. if its closer to new, it means it hasnt been field tested and proven. follow me? so in my opinion, a worn one has more value because it means it works. 0
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