Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New Trophy's
New trophy room comments
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Members
Current visitors
New profile posts
Search profile posts
Classifieds
Trophy Room
New items
New comments
Latest content
Latest updates
Latest reviews
Author list
Series list
Search showcase
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Tennessee Gun Owners Forums
Shotguns
Early Winchester Model 37 hammer and break lever variants
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="seann2golf" data-source="post: 5792530" data-attributes="member: 24283"><p>I'm not an expert but my father was extremely knowledgeable on 37's. I did gain some information from our joint collecting efforts. To my knowledge their are three editions of "red letters" and one edition of "blue belly" 37's. </p><p>Red letter only represents the word Winchester on the underneath belly of the firearm. Only a percentage of the earliest ones came from the factory painted red. First edition is the pigtail break action and a narrow hammer. Second edition is a solid break action and narrow hammer. Third edition is a solid break action and a wide hammer. I've found that the hammer angles can vary and most of the time this was done by a gun shop or owner after the initial purchase. The fourth edition is what we refer to as a blue belly. The word Winchester is absent fromt the belly of the gun. It too has a solid break action and a wide hammer just like the 3rd edition. Some people have told me there is a fifth edition blue belly but I can't verify this to be true. I know the three editions of red letters come in 5 gauges (4.10, 28g, 20, 16g, 12g) with varying lengths and a couple of choke options. The 28 gauge being the most expensive and difficult to acquire. Currently I am not well versed enough to say if they made a 28 gauge blue belly. If so, then it must be the most rare of them all. Owning well over a one hundred 37's at one time and countless 37 searches via internet and gun shows, I have yet to see one. Watch out for fake 28 gauges! Often made using a 20 gauge. </p><p></p><p>I need only a few to complete all 4 sets. One being a blue belly 28 gauge. Not sure how or why but I must have been confused at one point and traded off some 3rd edition stuff as well. These should be easily replaced though.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="seann2golf, post: 5792530, member: 24283"] I'm not an expert but my father was extremely knowledgeable on 37's. I did gain some information from our joint collecting efforts. To my knowledge their are three editions of "red letters" and one edition of "blue belly" 37's. Red letter only represents the word Winchester on the underneath belly of the firearm. Only a percentage of the earliest ones came from the factory painted red. First edition is the pigtail break action and a narrow hammer. Second edition is a solid break action and narrow hammer. Third edition is a solid break action and a wide hammer. I've found that the hammer angles can vary and most of the time this was done by a gun shop or owner after the initial purchase. The fourth edition is what we refer to as a blue belly. The word Winchester is absent fromt the belly of the gun. It too has a solid break action and a wide hammer just like the 3rd edition. Some people have told me there is a fifth edition blue belly but I can't verify this to be true. I know the three editions of red letters come in 5 gauges (4.10, 28g, 20, 16g, 12g) with varying lengths and a couple of choke options. The 28 gauge being the most expensive and difficult to acquire. Currently I am not well versed enough to say if they made a 28 gauge blue belly. If so, then it must be the most rare of them all. Owning well over a one hundred 37's at one time and countless 37 searches via internet and gun shows, I have yet to see one. Watch out for fake 28 gauges! Often made using a 20 gauge. I need only a few to complete all 4 sets. One being a blue belly 28 gauge. Not sure how or why but I must have been confused at one point and traded off some 3rd edition stuff as well. These should be easily replaced though. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Tennessee Gun Owners Forums
Shotguns
Early Winchester Model 37 hammer and break lever variants
Top