I was unable to find a lot of information on this rifle, but i recently picked one up from a friend. It's a Winchester Model 74 chambered for .22 short only, and it has a four digit serial number 24xx. It's in about 75% condition and i would really like to know it's date of manufacture, and approximate value. THanks.

The Winchester 74 came out in 1939, and they were only in .22 Short up until serial # 97000, after that the .22 Long Rifle version came out. Winchester dropped the .22 Short at serial number 132000. The 74's were made up until 1955, and were the last of the gallery guns made by Winchester. I had one once in .22 Long Rifle, and it was hell on wheels when it came to putting rounds downrange. A very neat little gun and eventually they will come ino their own with collectors I think.

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Vaya con Dios

When I was a kid my runnin' buddy, Chad, used a 74 that belonged to his dad. I always liked that rifle and whenever I see one I always think of the good times a couple of twelve year old kinds can have with .22's and a few boxes of ammo. I have a few 74's of my own now, nice little .22's that can still be found at pretty reasonable prices.

Winchester - RimfireCentral.com Forums
Winchester Manufacture Dates

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TOMBECK

I got one when a great uncle died many years ago. What I like about it is that it is mansized. So many 22's seem like they are made for kids. Mine is in LR and it is fun to shoot.

The funny thing, is that I remembered shooting it as a kid many years ago and I remembered it as a Browning because it loaded thru the stock. Maybe there was a Browning somewhere in his things, but we never found it.

I bought a 1948 one a few years ago, an excellent example from the Steel and Walnut Era. On the Winchester forum on RimFire Central, look for postings by Member 22AGS-he is THE Winchester M-74 expert.

I have two, one in 22 short, one made in 1942. You can date this model with the serial# in the back of the Blue Book of Gun values. Yours was made in 1939, first year of production, according to this text.