Winchester 1400 MKII Age?

[jphilp87]

Im interested in knowing what the age is on a Winchester 1400 MKII w/ SN "N500011".

I am sure someone has some knowledge of these guns, because they seem to be all over the place. This one is in about 90-95% condition and runs great. (Only problem is that it is a little difficult to break down, but that may be because I am accustomed to an Remington 870.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cuzzin]

I had one - shoulda never sold it. Can't give you the exact date on yours but just generally - the Mark I was made from 1964 to 1968. The Mark II Model 1400 replaced the 1400 model in 1968 and was discontinued in 1973

Here is your basic disassembly from a 2005 post on The Shotgun Forum.

"Take off the forend and barrel, then take out the trigger group. With the gun butt down on a table or bench with mag tube vertical put a screwdriver in the spring just below the piston and press the spring down towards the receiver. With the other hand round the mag tube push on the action bar to push the pin out of the piston, if it won’t move prize with a screwdriver gently, it’s only the spring pressure that holds the pin in. Let go of the action bar and put free hand over the end of tube and release pressure on screwdriver till it is free then with care take out piston and spring remembering which way in the piston goes. Put action bar aside and turn gun upside down, if the cocking handle and plate are held in by a small screw remove screw then with thumb and forefinger press in the firing pin slightly and twist cocking handle forward till rear of plate is clear of firing pin. The plate can now be removed from the ejection port with a bit of fiddling around. The bolt will now slide out of front of receiver. If there is no screw it is the later type so just press in the firing pin. All that is left is the ejector spring that is held in by a pin at the back of the receiver. On later models it is held in by a small clip and screw at the front that needs a jewellers crosshead screwdriver."

You need to be careful of the plastic follower (practically un-replaceable), it is somewhat fragile and will break if you try to shove too many rounds in the magazine.

 

[MCgunner]

Hmm, what succeeded the Mark II in 73? I bought mine new in about 1990 or near 'bouts

 

[Cuzzin]

Not sure... The Super X came out in '74, maybe that was the replacement. I went to Browning at that time so I dunno.

 

[MCgunner]

No, not an SX. I bought mine new in 1990 and I don't think it was dropped until mid to late 90s. Mine's a 1400 Ranger, the cheaper birch stock version.

 

[jphilp87]

Another question....

Does a barrel for a Model 1400 work on a Model 1400 MKII?

I would appreciate any advice! Thanks!

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

This may or may not help:

According to Fjestad, there is no listing of a "MKII" 1400. It doesn't exist according to him. Only variants are standard (w/ or w/o vent rib), New Model Walnut, Custom High Grade, Trap Grade, Skeet Grade, Deer Gun, Slug Hunter, and Ranger, with a few other sub-variants, but no mention of a MKII.

 

[chas08]

According to Fjestad, there is no listing of a "MKII" 1400. It doesn't exist according to him.

Unless I'm missing something. Someones wrong. I just got the below website off gunbroker for an instruction manual for a Winchester 1400 MK II.


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=123789630

 

[Cuzzin]

Hope this clears things up. The Model 1400 became the Model 1400 Mark II which became the Model 1500 which became the Model 1400 Ranger which became the Model 1400 again, but they are not the same. This is excerpted from The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1992 By Thomas Henshaw.

The Model 1400 (affectionately called the Mark I - my note) made its first appearance in 1964 using the Model 1200 slide action of a rotating, locking lug bolt and a gas valve system. In 1966, the Model 1400 was made available in with the new Winchester recoil reduction system. In 1968 the Model 1400 was introduced with a push button carrier release system to assist in loading and the Winchoke system already found in the Model 1200 was added to the Model 1400 - this version became the Model 1400 Mark II. The Model 1400 Mark II was dropped from the catalogs in 1973. In 1978, the Model 1400 design was changed with restyled stock and forearms with different checkering and some internal and external polishing - this was renamed and released as the Model 1500 XTR. In 1983, the Model 1500 XTR was discontinued. In 1984, the Winchester Ranger in Birch was introduced which closely resembled the Model 1500 - which was based on the Model 1400 Mark II. The Ranger was not in the catalog in 1985. The Model 1400 was reintroduced in 1989 as a field and deer gun. In 1991, the Model 1400was even available as a custom grade with hand engraving and fancy walnut stock and forearm. In 1992 a slug hunter was added. The Model 1400 was not in the 1992 catalog.

A lot of the Fjestad stuff is wrong or incomplete - I'm no expert either, so don't take me as gospel.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Well there you go!

Correct, Fjestad is far from gospel truth.

 

[Cuzzin]

jphilp87 wrote: Does a barrel for a Model 1400 work on a Model 1400 MKII?​

Dunno - I think most (if not all) the Mk II were delivered with a vr (vent rib) and the earlier 1400 was just a barrel and bead?