Howdy guys A new to me 72 hoping to get an approximate date of manufacture. Also wondering if these numbers mean anything? Most of the time when something like this is seen it is a SS number but it has one to few digits and has been hidden just below the stock line. Any chance the N2 scope base is factory? Thanks Chris
What you have done is not nearly as important as how you have done it!!! The Old Fart 2008 A.D.
Chris, I dont know much about them ,but the one i have has no numbers like that on it. The bolt really drags hard on mine ,i dont think to much of them ,but mine came with a weaver 330 scope at least.
Just over 161,000 M 72's manufactured between 1938 and 1949. Not serialized (many 22's were not serialized before the Gun Control Act of 1968). The holes that were d&t for the scope mount do not appear to be factory.
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter S. Thompson
The holes do not look factory. Whenever Winchester drills and taps as a special order it looks like it came from the factory; those holes are kind of common looking, no offense intended, but they are not the best looking drill/tap jobs. They hopefully are right where they need to be and do the job.
I am not up to speed on Win 72's. I owned a Win 77 I believe and may have owned a 72 or perhaps handled one. Does it not have a serial number stamped by Winchester? Serials weren't required until 1968, but Win serialed a lot of 22's before that and all centerfires. Blue Book of Gun Values or Flayderman's Guide would be good sources of information if a knowledgeable individual doesn't pop up on here. Edited: Well there you go, the best answer was posted while I was picking and pecking, some call it typing, but that would be a stretch here for me!
Hi Chris, The Model 72 and the Model 69 are kinda like brothers; one clip and one tubular magazine. I've had both and I'm very fond of them. They are accurate way beyond their price in my experience. My theory is the heavy barrel. 52 and 75 Sporters are no better in my accuracy book.
As to your questions...it appears to me that a previous owner may have marked the receiver in case it needed identification. I agree with sbrmike and Poconojack that the holes are probably not factory. Later maodels were grooved for scopes. I've never seen one with any factory serial numbers.
