Winchester model 37 red letter
I purchased a red letter model 37 28 guage from a gun broker dealer about 3 years ago. I am a novice collector and wanted to get a complete set. The 28 guage DID NOT have the pig tail. I was recently told that winchester never made the red letter 28 guage without the pigpail. Can any one tell me
if this is accurate? Can you also send me any info IE: When the red letters were made? Pigtails? Regular red letter model 37's? I was told from 1928 thru 1936 and then again I was told the original MFG date for the red letter was 1936? Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Terry (gunandknifeman)
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if this is accurate? Can you also send me any info IE: When the red letters were made? Pigtails? Regular red letter model 37's? I was told from 1928 thru 1936 and then again I was told the original MFG date for the red letter was 1936? Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
Terry (gunandknifeman)
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The pigtails were made for less than the first year. I think maybe the first 8-9 months or so. All 37s until 1947 were "red letters". They stopped making the 28ga also in 1947. I have been told that there are a few very late 28ga with out the "red letters" but I've never seen one. I have 6 28ga's myself in 26", 28", and 30"; two of which are pigtails. 0 -
Thank you very much for your response. I feel better now. The model 37 "red letter" is a very interesting gun for me.
Thasnks again!
Terry[:)]0 -
jmshunts,I guess I am hung up on Model 37 28Ga.like you. Mine are all pigtail levers.Reluctant to quote George Madis but I will."After 1950 manufacture of 28 Gauge barrels ceased but enough barrels remained on hand to enable sales of this gauge for years."I am a little confused by your 28ga with the 26" barrel.Tons of .410's out there in 26" and the 20ga.youth gun but not 28Ga.Are you sure it was not cut? My Stoegers are a little spotty now(out on loans)28ga was offered in 1940(page 78)with 28",30" and 32" barrel for $8.45 In 1943(page 58)with 28",30" and 32" barrel for $10.10 Since 1947 was a critical Redletter,pigtail,28ga.year,I will jump to Stoegers 1948(page56)offered in 28",30"but not 32" for$18.15 In 1950(page64)the 28ga was only offered with 28" barrel for $21.35 The 28ga is not listed in my 1953 Stoegers.I believe Stoeger just copied Winchesters slick sheet,so this should be pretty accurate(Bert would probably know for sure)Madis does not mention the 32" barrel on the early 28ga.Does your 28ga with 26" barrel have a pigtail lever?My guess is that Winchester was very good at pinching pennys in the old days and got those extra parts assembled and out the door.Hope this helps. 0 -
Raymond, I think I lost the bid to you on the winchester 37 20ga with the 32" bbl! I'd been looking for one for a LONG time! I did find a very nice one at "the great eastern" gun show in louisville a week later for $1000! My facination with the 28ga begain when my father started looking for one. We searched for 2 years and I ended up buying one for him and found out 9months later it was a fake. The seller ended up giving my money back for it. My 28ga with the 26" bbl is stamped "MOD" on the and has a shorter length of pull then the standard 37, it has not been cut off and it does not have the pigtail. I have shown this gun to several gun show dealers and they all say it is real and try to get it off of me. Someone told me they made a few "youth" model 28ga's in a test market but that is just hearsay. I have seen one more with the 26" bbl listed for sale but it was full. Have you heard of a 28ga with a 32" bbl? I saw a wanted ad in "gun list" a few years back with someone looking for one. 0 -
gunandknifeman,just an after thought.Lots of folks don't understand the facination or values of Model 37's.It was a kids first gun,the poor man's gun,the farmers gun to protect his home and family and keep the hawk and fox away from his chickens.When you are ten years old and pull down on a cottontail with a Model 37 12ga you never forget the pain.Took a good drill instructor to stop me from flinching.Model 37 Winchester was a part of rural America and our heritage. 0 -
jmshunts,yes it was me on the 20ga with 32" barrel.Paid to much but looked for many years.Barrel and receiver are beautiful but rest of gun was a disaster.Half way through restoration.Yes(see above post)28ga with 32" barrel offered for a few years.I don't believe they made 28ga with 26" barrel.It was never offered from 1940 out.But,hey I could be wrong.Madis has a misprint in his book about the 26" barrels.A friend recently had a Model 38 Winchester which was a Model 37 with a slide safety and no hammer.You would not believe what that sold for.If you find out any more about the 26" 28ga please let me know. 0 -
I would do things that I wouldn't be proud of for a 28ga with a 32" barrel. Has anyone ever seen one or heard of one existing other than just what is written in Stoegers book? Also, has anyone seen a 12ga with a 34" or 36" barrel? I've heard about these but I've also seen several 37s with barrel extensions added. 0 -
4205raymond,just read your post. The first gun my father bought me back in the late 50's was a used 410 redletter. I will never forget
my first cottontail hunt. We hunted a little farm in southwest virginia. I remember he made me (I was 10) carry the gun broke down,
with the shell in my pocket. I thought I was at such a disadvantage.
He had a model 48 Remington. Anyway I did end up getting one that day. I traded the the gun for a set of stag handle case knives (I still have)shortly after I was married and regretted that to this day. After my father passed several years ago I decided I would get a gun like that. I have had a great passion for the 37's since then. Thanks for the info.
Gunandknifeman0 -
Gunandknifeman,my dad, a medic in WW2 passed away last Oct.at 88 years old. I am a Native Son of Virginia. Deceided to keep dads place in Fluvanna Co.Like you,lots of great memories. 0
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