C&R · III · 161
Winchester “Bridger” line-throwing gun
Section III: removed from the NFA, curio or relic under the GCA
Official wording
ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION III · VERBATIM · PDF P. 45 ↗
Winchester, “Bridger” Line Throwing Gun with accompanying accessory kit, cal. 45-70, no S/N, with 14-inch barrel.
What this entry requires
- ATF REQUIRESConfigured as the ATF wording states: “with accompanying accessory kit”
- ATF REQUIRESConfigured as the ATF wording states: “with 14-inch barrel”
- ATF REQUIRESYour firearm has no serial number, as the ATF wording statesATF: “no S/N”
- INFOATF states no date; production was about 1936–1963.
Editorial facts · Our research
- Manufacturer
- Winchester Repeating Arms Co., for the Naval Co.Basis: outside reference ¹
- Caliber
- .45-70Basis: the ATF wording
- Service
- Commercial
Source
- Official wording
- ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section III · PDF p. 45 ↗ · ATF original ↗
- Entries
- 1 line
- Verbatim check
- Checked against the PDF text before every release
- Editorial facts
- Confidence: High · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
- References
- 1. jamesdjulia.com ↗, maker: Winchester Model 37 line gun, 14-1/8-inch smoothbore marked LINE GUN-45-70 BLANK ONLY, BRIDGER and NAVAL CO.
- 2. Wikipedia, “Winchester Model 37” ↗, years: Model 37 produced 1936–1963
- 3. jamesdjulia.com ↗, type: James D. Julia lot 1242A: 'Very rare Model 37 line throwing gun with 14-1/8″ heavy smooth bore bbl' marked 'LINE GUN-45-70 BLANK ONLY', 'BRIDGER' and 'NAVAL CO.'; a line-throwing gun, not a shotgun or rifle (type Other).
- 4. americansocietyofarmscollectors.org ↗, type: Spangler, 'Guns to Save Lives', ASAC Bulletin 111 p. 20: 'The "Bridger" single shot top break line throwing guns'; 'Bridger was used on the Winchester 37 type actions'.
- 5. Wikipedia, “Winchester Model 37” ↗, action: infobox action: break-action; single-shot (top-cocking lever, breakdown action).
- 6. americansocietyofarmscollectors.org ↗, action: p. 20: Bridger guns are single shot top break actions.
- 7. Wikipedia, “Winchester Model 37” ↗, country: infobox origin United States; manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
- 8. americansocietyofarmscollectors.org ↗, country: Naval Company of Philadelphia/Doylestown, Pennsylvania sold the Bridger guns (pp. 17–20).
- 9. americansocietyofarmscollectors.org ↗, years: p. 13: Springfield Armory Museum's Naval Company 'Bridger' top break gun on a Winchester action; 'According to Winchester experts, most of these were made in 1940-41'. Within the Model 37 action's 1936–1963 production.
- Fact tags
- ATF the ATF wording states it.
- REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
- ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
- NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
- Source checked
- 20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
- Corrections
- 4 changes · see below
Correction history
- Data-trust reviewEditorial confidence: Low → High. Re-rated after supporting references were added or re-checked.
- Data-trust reviewSearch aliases updated. Added model 37 / naval co
- Data-trust reviewYears: 1900–1960 → 1936–1963. The Bridger is built on the Winchester Model 37 (1936–1963)
- Data-trust reviewMaker: Winchester Repeating Arms Co. → Winchester Repeating Arms Co., for the Naval Co.. Barrel marked BRIDGER and NAVAL CO.
Historical context
Image: Wikimedia Commons, “Bridger Line Throwing Gun Kit - Austin Fire Museum - Austin, Texas - DSC09361.jpg” by Daderot, CC0. Retrieved October 2026.
Summary: Wikipedia, “Line thrower”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.
FROM WIKIPEDIA
A line thrower is a device that casts a line to a remote position. It is used in rescues as well as marine operations. A line thrower may employ a variety of launching methods including guns, rockets, and pneumatics.