Early '42 Winchester

[tom gray]

Really nice! I hope to find one some day

Information

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[RCS]

Your Winchester looks nice and with the proper parts - but can you explain the darker color at the rear or tang section ? Most of my Winchesters still have the dulite color so it is difficult to notice. I have to take photos in sunlight to really notice the anneal.

From any information known, Winchester did not anneal their production receivers in 1941. It
would appear that the anneal took place at the factory in the 1.2 million serial range. Sometimes, I have noticed a discolored area under the elevation knob on the dulite receivers - but could not reall identify this as anneal color.

Another question, if a Winchester rifle was annealed, would any early parts be changed-out for newer parts (example lock bar rear sight, trap door butt plate)

My photos show two early 1941 receivers with the top having been annealedAttachment 109520Attachment 109521

[m1903rifle]

My Winchester is in the 141 thousand range, and from the only picture that I took of the top of the receiver, I can't see any color difference. I will get it out of the safe and take it out in the sunlight to see if there is any difference.

[Bob Seijas]

Sometimes complete rifles were annealed by taking the fully-assembled barrel and receiver group out of the stock, dipping the heel in lead, and reassembling the rifle. All the parts remained unchanged.
On the subject rifle, the color change area looks fuzzy, most annealing has a more distinct change line. Could be that the lighter area is where it was handled a lot and the area under the sight knobs and back not as often.