Winchester Model 71 Deluxe (1886) .348 WCF Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1936 C&R

SOLD FOR: $2,325

LSB#: 200123CP08

Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 71 Deluxe

Serial Number: 5398

Year of Manufacture: 1936

Caliber: .348 Winchester

Action Type: This rifle has a lever action with a two thirds length tubular magazine.

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked -“WINCHESTER / PROOF STEEL”-, “-MODEL 71-“, “WINCHESTER / -TRADE MARK-” and “-348 W.C.F.-“. The top of the barrel at the rear and the top of the receiver at the front are each marked with an ovalled “WP” proof. The right of the barrel is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / -NEW HAVEN, CONN.-“. The bottom of the receiver at the front is marked “5398”.

Barrel Length: 24″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to a hooded, textured, ramped, base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear of the barrel is dovetailed for a rear sight which is not present with a blank installed in the dovetail. The top of the bolt is cut for a Winchester 98-A peep sight which is installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, fluted comb, semi-beavertail forend with steel cap, and checkered steel shotgun-style buttplate. There is a sling mount screwed to the belly near the toe and another dovetailed to the nosecap. This rifle has the longer tang and shorter comb of early production models. The stocks have light handling wear with several scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches, some areas of thinning finish, a few more notable dings at the front of the forend, and a more notable scrape on the right of the buttstock below the comb. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is well defined. The sling mounts show wear from use with a sling. The LOP measures 13 1/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with finish remaining in the checkering, which is well defined, and scattered light surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has three patches of finish wear on the top behind the front sight base, just in front of the magazine tube and over the front of the forend with a few scattered light nicks and scratches. The receiver has handling wear on the bottom and some scattered light nicks, scratches and scrapes. The worn areas show minor discoloration from oxidation and there are infrequent scattered spots of light surface oxidation. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. The lever lock-up is tight and the trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the installed peep sight.

Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 71 Deluxe rifle made in 1936, quite early in production. The Model 71 was a continuation of the 1886 design, with a pistol grip, shorter magazine tube and round barrel, produced in only two variants, 24″ and 20″. This rifle is chambered in .348 WCF, the only cartridge the 71 was ever chambered for besides experimental models, and which was actually developed just for this model. The cartridge is great for North American big game hunting in brush where shorter shots are taken and with modern projectiles such as Hornady’s Lever-evolution can now perform well at longer ranges, as well. This rifle is in about Very Good condition with about 85% of its original metal finish remaining. The bore is bright with sharp rifling and no erosion. All of the Winchester rifles made before 1964 are prized by shooters and collectors alike, but the Model 71 was produced for 22 years, a relatively short production life for a Winchester, with fewer than 50,000 rifles made altogether. A model 71 in any condition will likely bring a lot of interest from the Winchester collectors and this early Deluxe example has much of its original finish, a bright bore and strong mechanics. Please see our photos and good luck!

Winchester Model 71 Deluxe (1886) .348 WCF Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1936 C&R
Winchester Model 71 Deluxe (1886) .348 WCF Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1936 C&R