Model 37 choke markings? - 07/20/22
I've owned and shot quite a few Model 37 single shots since I bought my first one new in 1951 (28" .410; still have it). Had all guages and bbl. lengths except for a 28 and a "Youth Model," including 2 32" bbls, a 12 and a 16.
All that I've had were full choked--in several cases REALLY full choked! The choke was marked with a long, solid straight line stamped on the barrel among the other markings.
Has anyone seen other choke markings on a 37? Modified and cylinder chokes were available on special order according to several of the old Winchester catalogs, but I wonder if they were specially marked or just used shorter (or longer?) "line markings"?
Is the Modified choke that the Youth Model is supposed to have marked by a word or by some version of "the line"?
I've also seen several 37s with custom work but always assumed it was done aftermarket by a "gunsmith" or an actual gunsmith, depending on the quality of the work.
But were there 37s with custom work done by Winchester itself? Hard to imagine but back in the day, the paying customer was (nearly) always right!
All that I've had were full choked--in several cases REALLY full choked! The choke was marked with a long, solid straight line stamped on the barrel among the other markings.
Has anyone seen other choke markings on a 37? Modified and cylinder chokes were available on special order according to several of the old Winchester catalogs, but I wonder if they were specially marked or just used shorter (or longer?) "line markings"?
Is the Modified choke that the Youth Model is supposed to have marked by a word or by some version of "the line"?
I've also seen several 37s with custom work but always assumed it was done aftermarket by a "gunsmith" or an actual gunsmith, depending on the quality of the work.
But were there 37s with custom work done by Winchester itself? Hard to imagine but back in the day, the paying customer was (nearly) always right!