Winchester Model 37 Chamber Marking?

KeithNyst

I am looking a Model 37 and have two questions. The gun is a 12gauge 30" barrel. In most 37s I've seen the chamber marking is something like --2 3/4 CHAM.--, but this on has only the " 2 3/4" near the end of the barrel. Also the receiver has a sight notch.

Is this a legit barrel and receiver?
Here is pic[/URL]

MG1890

I would not believe that somebody would bother to counterfeit a model 37 12 gauge barrel.

charliemeyer007

Bubba might have filed a grove for a rear sight notch for use with slugs. There were Canadian versions of the 37A.

37 could be/are collectable 37A are shooter's according to some folks.

Post some pic's. guidance http://forums.GunBroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=259294

I like my cut down H&R Topper 88 in 12 gauge 3 inch, very light and handy with the screw in chokes.

Ray B

I checked a 16 ga M37 and it matches your description; the chamber is identified with just "2 3/4" and there is a notch in the receiver between the thumb lever and the barrel. It is not visible when sighting (blocked by both the curvature of the barrel and the lever) so I'm not sure what purpose it was intended to perform- possibly to allow easier access to the opened chamber. But it appears that your gun is not modified.

4205raymond

The sight notch at the top of the receiver really is a sight notch! It usually works great if the gun has not been tinkered with and your eye sight is not failing with old age like mine.You can imagine with over a million of these a lot of tinkering is going on as they get damaged or worn out.If the head space or I should say the end of barrel at chamber is too tight against receiver wall and dosen't drop enough, you are looking at the outside radius of barrel instead of thru sight notch.Also,folks are dropping 12ga break levers in 20ga receivers and they sit up way to high and block the sight notch. Sometimes folks take too much metal off top of receiver for reblueing prep.And sometimes the good old boys in New Haven just had a bad day and did not take enough off the top of the break lever.There are several things internally that will make the break lever sit up too high.When possible,break lever should be positioned slightly to right when action is closed.Don't forget to have the original size front sight bead or that notch won't work so great.Don't expect perfection here on a poor man's production gun but I love them.