[U.S.SFC_RET]

Picked up a Winnie .22 short take down. Nice little gun, has the typical patina but the question I have is the serial #s on the gun. Because it is a takedown it has two serial numbers, one on the front and one on the back. The one on the front is 661*** A and the one on the back is 637*** I didn't catch it when I bought it and my suspicions tell me that these two pieces used to belong apart and on two different guns. :banghead:
Am I right?
What does the A mean at the end of the receiver Serial #.
What does type I, II or whatever class of these little gallery guns mean?
The Owner was gracious enough to allow me to return the Gun even when it was on consignment.

[eliphalet]

Two serial Numbers should mean two different guns. Surf over to the Winchester threads at rimfirecentral.com. Some of the guys there are extremely knowledgeable on Winchester 22's.
Good chance you can find your answers using their search engine.

[rcmodel]

Definitely a parts gun put together from two different guns.
They always should match if original.
637xxx = 1921

661xxx = 1923
Not sure about the A though.
The Winchester book I have does not list any 1890 serial with an A suffix.

For what it's worth, the 637xxx on the tang is the actual serial number you should use for record keeping or legal purposes.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[Jim K]

I am not sure on that rifle, but the normal suffix letter on Winchesters was a factory internal work mark and not actually part of the serial number (though it should be included on legal records just because it is on the gun). Some speculation is that it indicated the "inside contractor" responsible for final assembly of the gun but AFAIK that has not been confirmed. It has been pretty well confirmed that it does not indicate a second series or anything like that.

Jim