You need to know which version of the Newton you have, there are 5 basic Newton models. Each one having some distinct characteristics that can date them to and era of mfg but not to much better than that.
There are no factory records remaining that I am aware of.
Bbl address markings are among the first hint of mfg era.
Perhaps even earlier than that would be the very first Newton rifles which were imported from Germany just before Germany entered WW1.
Only 24 made it here if I understand the info correctly , those being built on Mause 98 actions. But plans for several different grades and models were planned.
All to be made on Mauser 98 & Haenel sporting actions,,all in Newton and Adolph HV calibers.
These are marked with the Newton Arms Co, INC bbl address.
Any of these would be quite a find!
Second Model known as the Model 1916
The second group also has the 'INC' included in the bbl address, however these are the made in the USA rifles commonly thought of as the best of the US built Newton rifles,, though they were made under 4 different owners of the company. Quite a story in itself.
Made from
1916 to the early 1920's.
A 2 digit ser# of this Model would be a 1916 built rifle and quite possibly a first or second month production I'd guess.
Built when Chas Newton still had control of the company. Info I saw speculated that the factory under Chas Newton turned out about 150 rifles a month (2400 in the 16mo he maintained control).
Third version the Model 1922
The owners of the Newton went back to importing from Germany once again now that the Big War was over. In the early 20's they imported Mauser 98 actioned sporters built by JP Sauer. About 100 were imported,,most if not all in 256 Newton
These will have a 'Chas. Newton Rifle Corp' bbl address. Some also with 'Buffalo NY' added.
Collectors call these a Newton Model 1922. I don't know if they were cataloged that way or not.
Very rare to find one of these and beautifully built rifles. I don't know how the ser#'s run on these nor if Newton added their own # to the JPSauer number (which would have been an added number to the Mauser Werk ser# if the actions were sourced from them). I've never seen one of these.
The Model 1924 or Second Model Newton
BBl markd 'Buffalo Newton Rifle Corp'
This one has the very thin dog leg bolt handle and generally not the overall first class workmanship of the earlier US built Buffalo, NY Newtons. These don't bring the $$ nor collector interest that the earlier guns do.
Made,,,some say just assembled,,from about 1924 to 1930. About 1000 rifles in this lot maybe + that depending on which collector you are talking to.
Some are covered with inspection marks and are ser#'s. A few have showed up w/ no ser# at all.
Standard Newton calibers plus the 30-06 as was the general rule.
Nothing much in special order for these second models.
There's one more late model 1924 Newton but marked 'Meeker Arms'.
One of the investors of the Buffalo Newton Rifle Corp., John (?) Meeker got angry over how things were proceeding and walked out with parts enough to assemble about 150 to 200 complete Newton rifles. He even called the Newton calibers, 'Meeker' calibers (256 Meeker, 350 Meeker, ect) .
Buffalo Newton Rifle Corp sued to stop his production but some made it out there for collectors to search for.
The old Model 1916 Newtons could be had and were built in engraved and special high grade wood stocked models and in some special calibers.
IIRC the 30-06 chambering in the 1916 Model was used about 15% of the production.
I know that the bbl threads and breech face on the Newtons are standard 1903 US Springfield bbl spec.
Many have been rebbl'd w/a surplus ;03 bbl.
I can see where some may have found themselves with a fine rifle but no 256 or 35 Newton ammo handy down at the hd'ware & feed supply store.
A $1 surplus '03 bbl probably looked awfully good at the time along with 50cents /per hundred surplus ammo.
Newton advertised in their later brochures that they would in fact do that bbl conversion work for customers on their rifles. Even supplying the surplus bbl if needed.
