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If anyone is doing study’s on the mod. 53 Here’s ser#6245 in 44w.c.f. How many 44’s are there? I believe there is an article on them somewhere.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Henry,
I am the person currently surveying the Model 53 rifles.
S/N 6245 was documented in the survey a few years ago. The butt stock currently on that rifle is not factory original.
Of the 1,099 Model 53 rifles currently documented in the survey, just 160 of them are 44 WCF caliber (14.6%). The extrapolated total production in that caliber is just 2,200.
The article you mention was in the Fall 2015 WACA Collector magazine, written by Kirk Durston
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
The 44 caliber Model 53 in takedown version has always been even tougher to find – especially with some condition. This one is serial #3192 – Bert, I am pretty sure I have shared it wih you in the past. The really elusive gun is the factory checkered 53 – especially one that is right – when I was actively collecting I never did find one.
Burt,
I do have it documented, and you are correct… of the (160) documented thus far in 44 WCF, just (42) of them are Take Downs. The extrapolated number of Take Down 44s is just (578).
Model 53 rifles with a factory Pistol Grip stock are rare. Thus far, just (16) have been documented (all calibers). In comparison, (19) rifles have been documented with a Stainless Steel barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I have #507, a standard rifle in 44-40. Bought it to shoot, but haven’t yet. All the 44’s
I have owned over the years, shot exceptionally well, and were very accurate with 215 gr. lead, gas checked slugs. Big Larry
Just wondering BL ,if you slugged the barrel on your Model 53 .44-40?If so ,what was the diameter ?
I just come home from the range with the 53, shooting at 50 yards it is spot on ,(for an old guy with glasses), and is one of the nicer shooting guns I’ve fired in past while.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
Bert ; I am curious, what makes the stock “not original” to the gun, the fit is perfect. Thanks for finding the article .
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
28 gauge said
Just wondering BL ,if you slugged the barrel on your Model 53 .44-40?If so ,what was the diameter ?
Never have slugged a bbl. but my BIL did. I don’t remember the results and he is in Gun Heaven now. .427 comes to mind. Whatever the measurement, I killed many ground squirrels and small animals with my old M92. Couple deer too. My former BIL could put all his shots in the black at 100 yards with his 20″,44, M92 rifle. He was a great shot. Big Larry
Henry Mero said
I just come home from the range with the 53, shooting at 50 yards it is spot on ,(for an old guy with glasses), and is one of the nicer shooting guns I’ve fired in past while.
Henry,just wondering if you were shooting factory or hand loaded ammunition?
Henry Mero said
Bert ; I am curious, what makes the stock “not original” to the gun, the fit is perfect. Thanks for finding the article .
Henry,
For starters, it does not have the deep fluted comb found on all original Model 53 butt stocks. Next, it has a composite material butt plate instead of the serrated steel butt plate. Last, the condition of the butt stock does not match the rest of the rifle… this rifle was added to the survey in October 2021 when it was listed for sale on the Canadian version of Gunbroker, and both Matt Capell and I readily concluded that the butt stock had been replaced.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Big Larry said
28 gauge said
Just wondering BL ,if you slugged the barrel on your Model 53 .44-40?If so ,what was the diameter ?
Never have slugged a bbl. but my BIL did. I don’t remember the results and he is in Gun Heaven now. .427 comes to mind. Whatever the measurement, I killed many ground squirrels and small animals with my old M92. Couple deer too. My former BIL could put all his shots in the black at 100 yards with his 20″,44, M92 rifle. He was a great shot. Big Larry
Hope to have a Model 53 solid frame .44-40 at some point in time myself,BL.Been stocking piling bullets for when I do.The bullets I have at present time are Winchester and Campro 200 grain jacketed The Winchester are .426 and the Campro .427.These will be fine if the barrel slugs .446 .427,but I have been reading that some .44-40 barrels for the Model 53 are some what larger.I am thinking if this is the case,I may need larger bullets to get good shooting.
Will stay with what I have at present ,as the rifle,when I get one ,I am hoping will have the smaller bore.Not even sure any of the ,44-40 Model 53 barrels are larger,its just what I read some where ,with nothing factual .
Top one is a solid frame .32-20 and bottom one is a takedown .25-20.
The bottom one is unusual with the rifle butt. Bert – how many in the survey have turned up with a rifle butt? I would be curious if other known 53’s with a rifle butt have a fluted comb. This one does not. Needless to say, I don’t have a, “letter” with the rifle. I think it’s right. A few years ago, there was a member here, with great expertise with M53’s, who very much wanted to acquire it from me. But… I have difficulty letting things go.
Brooksy said
By chance is the 25 20 with the rifle butt an early example?
Nope. Serial number is just close to a million. Manufactured in 1930.
I was shooting some older C.I.L. , 200 gr. That I have in the ammo cupboard. Bert I am looking at ser#359 in the Win. Collector with a “rubber” shotgun butt , I can see the difference in the flutes” in the comb, but I don’t see the difference in the condition of the wood compared to the rest of the gun, I am looking at it with these spectacled 75 year old eyes. Regardless it is an attractive little gun and a pleasant gun to shoot.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
steve004 said
Top one is a solid frame .32-20 and bottom one is a takedown .25-20.The bottom one is unusual with the rifle butt. Bert – how many in the survey have turned up with a rifle butt? I would be curious if other known 53’s with a rifle butt have a fluted comb. This one does not. Needless to say, I don’t have a, “letter” with the rifle. I think it’s right. A few years ago, there was a member here, with great expertise with M53’s, who very much wanted to acquire it from me. But… I have difficulty letting things go.
Steve,
When fitted with a crescent butt, the combs were not fluted. Only the shotgun style butt stocks were fluted. As for the number of them that were factory fitted with a rifle (crescent) butt stock, that it is not an easy question to answer. As of today, I have (18) listed in the survey that appear to be factory original, and at least that many more that appear to be stocks high-graded off of a Model 1892. There simply is no possible way to positively identify how many were manufactured.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Henry Mero said
I was shooting some older C.I.L. , 200 gr. That I have in the ammo cupboard.
Okay thanks for that,Henry.I am assuming that ammunition used either .426 or .427 dia. bullets.
Saw you were documenting model 53. A frend showed me this one.
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