DOB for a Sears Model 100 Ted Williams (30-30)

[doctorj77]

I picked up a old Sears Model 100 Ted Williams 30-30, with a Weaver marked side mount/rings, and a 1976 marked Kmart 4x scope for $175. It's a shooter, in nice used shape but not abused. I know these are a re-labeled Winchester 94 for retail. Just curious if there is a way to identify what year it was made by the SN? I know these were made between 1964-1980, but was hoping for a more precise year. Didn't know if there was any online search tools

 

[ThomasT]

I can't help with the DOB but I had one of those a long time ago. That was an accurate little rifle. My brother in law has it now. I think he is buying it. He also borrowed my williams 5D peep to put on it. Twenty plus years later he is going to pay for it. And I am sure that someday he will return the peep sight.

 

[Scorch]

FYI, any Ted Williams marked 94 is a post-64 rifle. Sears dropped the JC Higgins name in favor of the Ted Williams name for their firearms in the late 1960s. Winchester and Sears had an ongoing relationship for decades. Firearms marked Ted Williams are virtually the same as Winchester production of the time, but they command lower prices than the Winchester guns.

 

[Rob62]

I suspect that the same serial numbering system was used for these House Brand guns that Wibchester used for their "regular" model 94's. So as a minimum I would look up your guns serial number as a regular model 94 and see if that may shed some light on the situation.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/library/articles/detail.asp?id=401

Regards,

Rob

 

[Scorch]

No, Sears had their own serial numbers.

There is an amusing anecdote told (I am not sure how true it is) about when the folks at Sears and Winchester parted ways. The story goes that Sears employees removed the serial numbers from the rifles before returning them to Winchester.

 

[Big Shrek]

Poke it in here and see what you get
http://www.savage99.com/winchester1894_dates.htm

 

[doofus47]

I don't think that Sears ever did any archiving of their serial numbers.
If Winchester made mechanical changes to their lever rifles after 64, maybe you could date it that way.
For example, I have a Ted Williams Model53 and the serial numbers don't seem to match anything in the winchester production system.
I have the rail-lug in mine, so I'm guessing somewhere between 68-72 for mine.

 

[doctorj77]

Thank Big Shrek. I tried the link and it came up (Made after 1982). But I thought Sears dropped the Ted Williams line though in 80, so this may not be entirely accurate.

Using the other link to the Winchester page that Rob posted, IF my serial (V102327) is on there then that suggests it was made in 71, which would sound more in line.