Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Why does this rifle look funny to me?

A few things on this rifle don't look right to me. What do you guys think?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=441562454

It looks reblued.

They buffed the heck out of that lettering.

Barrel roll marking is not correct, looking at my pre-wars. Mine don't have New Haven Conn. on them.
Shouldn't there be a rear sight boss?
Front sight ramp doesn't look integral with the barrel, but maybe?

Nicely put together rifle. Barrel is incorrect for the year of manufacture of the rifle: The stamping "375 H&H Magnum" was introduced June 25th. of 1950. The rear sight is also indicative of a later barrel. Plus, it's a 25" barrel which is a dead give away. According to the serial #, it was manufactured in '37. The barrel is off a much later rifle (1950-1956)) and it's been re-blued, but that's not as important as the re-barrel. The stock is also from a mid to late 40's rifle. Someone else might be able to find more that I'm not seeing, but that about sums it up for me.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but here's a similar question: There were only a few standard barrel 375 magnums, does anyone recognize this one from previous auctions: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=441732829

"As-is, no refunds" is an odd way to offer such a unique rifle, if it's legit.

You may want to keep an eye on that one. You might be surprised to see how much it sells for . Probably not too many guys know what is so rare about that rifle... I just bid on it because I know I won't even come close to touching the reserve

Proof is located on top of the barrel....put together gun that one would always have to make excuses for.

Dead giveaway on an early gun....at least I have never seen the proof on top on a legit pre war.

BSA, nice research on the later barrel thing.

I was going to toss in a bid on that std weight 375.Never seen one of those in the flesh,but I am not going to chase it for collecting.

Bob, you know you would be my hero if you bought that std wt 375 ..

It has a non-original recoil pad on it but that's not really a big deal as it had a pad on it originally. The "as is no returns" thing scares me and I'm betting that will cost the seller a considerable amount of money on this auction as this is an extrememley rare rifle but the no returns will keep a lot of bidders away from it.

Well guys, I chased the std weight 375 up until $5675! It sold for $5700.

"Sugartit3" wanted it badly but dropped out once it got into the low 5's. lol. It was a race until the finish but given the "as is" terms and lack of real quality photos I had to let it go. It was a good call, I think, but I have mixed emotions knowing I probably won't see another like it for sale.

I have to say my wallet is very happy this morning. lol.

Eric

Eric, you are an intelligent guy. I think you made a wise decision as well. It's really hard to bid on a rifle or purchase it without having an inspection period. With something as rare as that std wt 375, I think it should have had an inspection period.

Thanks BSA. It was a tough call. The seller had promised additional photos but then went on a weekend holiday and didn't reappear until after the auction ended. He told me the rifle was sold on consignment. The owner received it from a gentleman who passed away recently and was a Winchester guru of sorts. I think this rifle could have sold for much more if it had been advertised better.

Eric

bsa: I am torn on them. I love the rifles but when I have to pay $5k for one, I am looking to build. I also don't want to bed and reinforce the stock on a "clean" original (you know I like to shoot them); but they need it to keep stocks from splitting. So.....

All this is part of the reason I have never gone hog wild for the pre 64 SG's....I leave them for the collectors.

Of course I could be happy dropping the metal into an Echols Legend....but I don't have to spend $5k on the rifle to get that done.

I know very little about pre-64's myself, so now that the .375 has sold, do you care to share what is so rare about that rifle that makes is so desirable? Just trying to learn.

Good question test1328, I would also like to know more about this rare animal.

Great question guys. This was kind of a 2 part thread. 1 being the OP's 375 in question, which is a put together rifle. This is so obvious to a well educated Winchester model 70 guru. To the untrained eye it looks like a nice 375. The second part of this thread involves this post and this is where your question comes into play about rarity:



This rifle in question is extremely rare. According to Rule, he thought there were only 10 that were built. However, he didn't know everything about model 70's and what went out the back door with it's employees . Back to the rifle in question. It is a 375 H&H with a standard wt barrel, which basically means it had a very light barrel on it in comparison to the other 2 configurations (24" heavy weight and 25" tapered medium wt) offered.

Thanks, BSA. I learn a lot from perusing this section of 24hcf and appreciate everyone's knowledge. Unfortunately, I don't personally own a pre-64, but have always loved the M70 rifle. In fact, I just got back from a Moose/Brown Bear hunt in AK and carried my Stainless/synthetic 338 WM M70 Classic for moose and my .375 stainless/synthetic 375 H&H M70 Classic for bear. After that, I can certainly appreciate having a lighter barrel on the 375.

test, there's nothing wrong with the stainless classics. In some regards, they may be better than a pre 64 because you don't have to worry about them rusting like the pre 64's can in adverse conditions.

Not that one would really go out and shoot this rifle but if they did I can gaurentee that the stock would crack between the magazine and trigger opening. Every 375 I've examined has been cracked there, I'm betting it happened on the first couple shots, maybe even the test fire shot in the factory!