Winchester 37 help needed, please.

Hi guys, my coworker is looking to sell a Winchester model 37. It's a take-down style single shot 12 ga. 2 3/4. Its also marked "steelbuilt" . Serial number 143xxx.

Now, I'm not really a shotgun guy. I know very little about them, but this one has nice wood and the bluing is 99%. It really looks like it was never fired. What is a fair amount of money to offer him for this gun? Anything to know about this model?

Thanks!

 

Need photos to really get a better idea, but if it's as you describe and for sure a 37 (not a 37a or 370) then it'll bring $400 all day long. More to the right man. But I would make the owner price it. Pap's first rule of horse trading: never price another man's stuff!

Mac

 

Another thing to look at is if the Winchester is in red or not. These are known as red labels and do raise the value some. There were other options such as gold triggers that will also effect value too. So yes good photos would help.

But I have to agree with MacAR on letting the seller set a price first and then go from there.

 

To my knowledge Model 37s didn't have serial numbers except those that were exported FYI. Gun is worth around $375 to $400 or so probably.

 

One of the most desirable single shots. Kind of unique in the placement of hammer and top lever.
The full choke models were tight.

 

No they did not have serial numbers for the domestic market. I had to put an identifying mark on my Model 37 in order to register it with the Provost Marshal and also to be able to have it on base.

Yes they were. Mine was a 16 gauge with full choke. It made an excellent turkey gun but kicked pretty hard with turkey loads.

 

I’ve never seen a Model 37 with a serial number. I though they stopped making them before GCA 68 required serial numbers on all guns.

IIRC Winchester did produce a “37A” that was a different single shot built by Cooey in Canada. Be sure that’s not what it is because those are much less valuable.

Edit: Wikipedia says I was right about none ever being produced with a serial number. I recommend the OP carefully verify what he’s buying. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_37

 

Never had a 12 gauge model 37. But my 16 gauge and 20 gauge do not have serial numbers. I am worried that the gun being discussed is not really a model 37. It is sorta unusual to find a totally unmolested 12 gauge because of the turkey shooters.

 

If any Model 37's had serial numbers then they were destined for foreign markets that required serial numbers.

Just an example here. A lot of civilian firearms were sent to Great Britain during WWII to help arm the home guard there. And All firearms that came from the US had to be inspected and proofed by the GB government. Those will definitely have proof marks and probably some type of serial number too. Again that is just one example. And Winchesters were shipped overseas for civilian markets during peace time too.

A Model 37 that has never left the US (or been kept on a military base by troops) will not have any type of serial number since they were all made before 1968.

 

There was also a 370 which was a typical post '64 Winchester cheap version of something good.
My first 37 was also my first trap gun. I added a rib off a High Standard that had lost it in a fire, a slip on pad, aa trigger shoe, and a lace on cheek piece. Won a lot of meat with that. Since it had an outside hammer I could use it in blackpowder shotgun matches also.

 

Normally I’m not a fan of messing up nice old guns, but it would be cool to have one that had been marked as a Lend-Lease gun.

 

Just outside Chicago. I paid $200 for red letter 12 gauge about 4 years ago. I held a pigtail model where they were asking $300. There is a 16 gauge in a local gun shop right now for $250. I have seen 410’s in the $300 range and held a 20 gauge, modified choke this past summer worn almost white where they were asking $300.

please bear in mind that the newest of these is almost 55 years old and that pigtail model was 86 years old. It is very hard to find a working man’s shotgun in stellar condition that is that old unless it has been redone. And it is well published that they had no serial numbers.

pictures would help.

 

The 410 versions definitely go for more, especially if they are a red label and/or have the gold trigger.