winchester 40

spr1946

does anyone know where i can find parts diagram for the winchester model 40 shotgun.any information appreciated

nononsense

spr1946,

From a recent post on another forum:

"The information you got is almost the opposite of the fact. Browning had, of course, designed many of Winchester's most successful guns, but Winchester had always bought the production rights for a lump sum, which Browning felt (correctly) favored the company.

When Browning brought Winchester his auto loading shotgun in 1900, he wanted to work out a royalty agreement, so he would be paid so much per gun, and started negotiations. Meanwhile, the Winchester patent attorneys drew up the patents on the new design and filed them in Browning's name. But Thomas Gray Bennett, company president and son-in-law of Oliver F. Winchester, refused Browning's royalty requests, so Browning took his gun first to Remington (which was in confusion due to the death of its own head, Marcellus Hartley) and then to Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Belgium, which started production of what became the famous Browning Auto 5 on a royalty basis. Later, so did Remington and Savage.

But those patents, which belonged to Browning, not Winchester, were tight. After the success of the Browning auto-loader, Winchester's chief designer, Thomas Crossly Johnson, was given the job of designing an auto-loading shotgun working around the Browning patents. The most obvious feature of the resulting Model [19]11 is the knurled barrel, made necessary by the fact that the Browning patents included the use of an operating handle, so Johnson couldn't use one.

The Model 40 is basically an updated Model 11, but the expiration of Browning's patents allowed it use a conventional bolt handle. The other problems of the Model 11 still remained, though, including a fragile action and a pronounced tendency to kick the bejabbers out of the shooter in spite of a new buffer arrangement. So, the Model 11 and Model 40 are, essentially, un-Brownings, contrary to what you were told.

There were only 12,000 Model 40's made in 1940 and 1941, and there are reports that many of those spent most of the time back at the factory with various problems. Winchester finally recalled them with the result that they are fairly rare today. Odd for an uncommon, almost rare, Winchester, there is not a lot of collector interest. Top prices run under $1000 and an average is around $500. I think the price you paid is a bit high, but you may never see another one, so I wouldn't quibble.

But I would go buy a Remington 1100 or something like that for shooting. That Winchester is old and there are no parts available, even though there are some Model 11 parts available and some interchange with Model 40 parts.

Any good gunsmith should be able to reblue that barrel.

Jim Keenan"

Best.

spr1946

Still Looking , Good history lesson(read that befor) but NEED the BREAKDOWN. Thank you.

only winchesters

Hello spr1946: While places like e-gunparts and Writes has schematics for most pre-64 Winchester shotguns, the Md 40 isn't one of them. Depending on who you want to believe only 12,000 plus of the Md 40 were made, then recalled. Just finding one today that's still operational is rare, much less any schematics or instructions. this gun has major timing functions, and is not a gun to be worked on by the average person. There probably only a hand full of gunsmiths around who can actually work on them.

With all due respect to both nononsense and Jim Keenan, the Md 40 is hardly an "up-dated version" of the Md 11 S.L. different receiver, trigger guard housing, bolt, barrel, mag tube assy, stocks. If there are any interchangeable parts they would be limited to springs possibly.

While they both had recoiling barrels, that's where the simalarity ends.

Regards Dave

nononsense

only winchesters,

I'm glad you had the information at hand. I was merely responding to the request for:

"any information appreciated" and the fact that there wasn't anyone else offering any help at the time. I did find an owner's manual with disassembly instructions, a parts list and diagram but he's probably already seen that as well...

Best.

spr1946

Thank you, Yes, I did say"ANY" Info. The Winchester book gives the history but not much more, The parts list,diagram, disassembly instructions is something i can use. If you can help, The book i have states that Winchester offered Mod.97, 12, and 42 as replacements. I wonder how many mod 40s are left? Thanks again.

nononsense

This company may suffer from the same confusion but for 4 bucks, it's probably worth the gamble:

Winchester Model 40 (1911)

http://www.rediscovered-shooting-treasures.com/winchester1911.htm

Reproduced from quality scans of original Winchester model 1911 shotgun factory instruction manual reproduction. Reproduced with quality scans of original. Four page bi-fold design with instructions for disassembly. Also has a complete parts list and diagram. Great cut away action picture. Great information and a nice display item.
Only From Rediscovered Shooting Treasures
$4.00 plus shipping.

spr1946

I sure don't need anything for the mod. 1911 if its not the same as the 40. I was told by others that it is diff. Does anyone know for sure or where i can get the info on the mod 40? Thanks to all.