Got an old 1941 Winchester Model 74 .22 LR for $100, hadn't heard about them before I found it but it's a simple gun and has a very interesting history (many were sent overseas to England to be used as sniper rifles should the Nazis invade). There are some quirks such as the safety on top of the gun (Don't engage the safety before you cock it!!! Likely to jam).

There are two sight configurations I've found, one with standard front/back metal sights and the other with a Winchester 88A peep sight that is mounted to the back of the bolt via dovetail. Interestingly, my rifle has both of the standard sights and also a bolt with the dovetail mount for the peep sight (but the peep sight itself is missing). So I believe at some point this gun became a hybrid, I'm thinking the bolt was swapped with another model 74 w/peep sight at some point. The rifling on mine looks to be still intact, the stock is in decent (but not great) shape, and the bolt comes out freely. No rust anywhere!

My current plans are to clean it, make sure it shoots, find/fab a new peep sight, and find a new magazine inner tube as the old one that goes in the stock after you load is missing.

Anyone else with a 74 and advice or tips? One thing I'm worried about is dry-firing as I've read it can damage the firing pin. My only question is how do I avoid that when shooting? Do I just need to count shots and not pull the trigger extra times? Thanks!

Yes, great guns. Easy to work on. Handy in the field.

You got a steal of a deal.

The Model 74 is indeed a very interesting little rifle. Sounds like you have done some research on the rifle and yes there were a small quantity made under the Lend -Lease program to Britain. They were supposedly given to the "British Auxillary Units" which were kind of a secret guerilla organizatiion in case the Nazis did indeed ever occupy England.
Those rifles were fitted with silencers made by Parker - Hale in early 1942 (they threaded the barrels) and they also drilled the recievers for optic sights. Production started in 1939 and ended in 1942.... then resumed in late 1947 until 1955-1956.....However the rifle was actually designed around 1901-1902 as one of the first semi auto .22 cal rifles. Your serial number should fall between 67,087 to 114350 if it was built in 1941.
After the war some of the older rifles were fitted with new barrels.....if you want to seperate the barrel from the action you can look at the rear of the barrel for a 2 digit date and see if it falls in line with your serial number range.
The rifles were somewhat finicky and had feeding issues as the springs got wear on them and it had a quirk that you never wanted to cock the bolt if the safety was on.
It has a three piece firing pin assembly which is pretty fragile which dictates the recommendation to not dry fire it unless you have a spent case in the chamber.
It is really rare to find one of the rifles that was sent to Britain as few have survived the time and made it back to the US.
Cost of the rifles in and around 1939 -1942 was about $18.00 dollars or so......kind of expensive for that time period.
Hope you can find the feed tube. Cool gun regardless!

Magazine Tube Assembly - Inner - Complete - Original (cfnparts.com)

I have done business with these guys. Good service.

I will 2nd that. I have purchased many old Winchester and Colt antique parts from them.
Very nice people and knowledgeable. Sometimes have to leave a message but they always call you back.

I have one that is in pretty decent shape. I would guess mine is made in the 50's. Pretty nice little gun I never had a feeding issues with mine.

Appreciate the additional history! Mine is almost assuredly not one of those sent overseas, no threaded barrel. Mine is in the 94,000 range so built in 1941. Very interesting that it was designed so long before it was built!

Will take a look at the bottom of the barrel when I disassemble it as well. I also wonder if they swapped the bolt out due to the feeding issues you mentioned, will report back on if it has any once I shoot it.

Thanks very much! Original and reasonable price, too. Will ask them about the peep sight also but I have a feeling I'm SOL there

Sounds good. Appreciate you sharing with us about your rifle. I always wish they could talk and tell us what they have seen.....and about the folks who have held them and owned them. Hope you have a lot of fun messing with it and shooting it!
Keep us posted on how it goes my friend.