Winchester Pre-64 Model 71 Like 1886 24″ .348 WCF Lever Rifle, MFD 1950 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1540.51
LSB#: 210424MA43
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 71
Serial Number: 30866
Year of Manufacture: 1950
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 “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-“, “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-“, “MODEL 71 – 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 bottom of the receiver at the front is marked “30866”.
Barrel Length: 24″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to a textured, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The base is grooved for a hood which is not present. The rear sight is a “U”-notch semi-buckhorn leaf and elevator sight with the notch finely adjustable for elevation, dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The left of the receiver has five drilled and tapped holes, three filled and presumably for some sort of optic mount, two are used for the installed Williams receiver sight which is adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with a pistol grip, fluted comb, semi-beavertail forend with steel cap, checkered steel shotgun-style buttplate, and a sling stud in the belly. There is a hole with a threaded metal escutcheon in the bottom-front of the forend for a sling stud which is not present. There is a sling stud mounted to the magazine tube forward of the forend cap. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a short, thin crack at the right-rear of the top tang. The wrist is alternately proud and shy to the tangs, there is a gap between the stock and buttplate at the heel. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has mostly worn to white with finish remaining in the grooves of the checkering, some scattered minor surface oxidation and well defined checkering. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent minor erosion in the bore, mostly at the muzzle-end.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has some scattered minor finish wear, mostly forward of the forend, some light nicks and scratches, and infrequent minor surface oxidation. The receiver has handling wear in the tangs, the inside of the lever loop, and the bottom-front of the receiver. The worn areas show minor discoloration from oxidation. The receiver has some light nicks, scratches, and tool marks around some screw heads. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to 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 slightly loose, but the mechanism prevents out of battery discharge and the lockup appears tighter when the hammer is cocked. 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: None.
Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 71 rifle made in 1950. 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 mostly bright with sharp rifling and infrequent minor 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 example retains much of its original finish, a nice bore and good mechanics. It would make for a nice shooter or addition to a collection. Please see our photos and good luck!