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New to Forum// Old Collector score on M-71
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October 20, 2013 - 12:30 pm
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First, thanks for having such a informative forum. I have browsed her for years. I have several nice Winchesters, but yesterday at an estate auction I high bid on a M-71 "Short Rifle" Deluxe, With bolt peep sight. SN # is 2246X which puts into a 1946 YOM. The rifle has been hunted with locally in a simi- remote household here in S. New Mexico. Has honest wear but the bore shines and shows much responsible care and has about 70+ blue on barrel and mag tube. I have some ?s on it though. The rifle may have been a special order?? It has the complete action, lever, hammer, peep sight, bolt and nosecap are gloss silver or nickel finish. The stock appears original with what was Higher grade wood. I want to know if the factory would have such a finish for special order and maybe the possible value of the rifle with such a finish. I will add photos after I wipe it down and clean the many years accumulation of grime and NM dust from it. I will also find it necessary to get a Cody Letter on this beautiful rifle. thanks for any info or comments about this.

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October 20, 2013 - 4:05 pm
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There are no warehouse records for the 71, only serial number application date for yours

Bob

WACA Life Member---
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Researching the Winchester 1873's

73_86cutaway.jpg

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October 20, 2013 - 6:16 pm
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It would be interesting to see some close up photos of the receiver from different angles.

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October 20, 2013 - 8:53 pm
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Model 71 serial number 2246x was manufactured in September of 1942.

If you would like the exact date, contact me and provide the complete serial number. Also, please include clear pictures of your Model 71.

Bert

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October 20, 2013 - 9:43 pm
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I will do some pics in the AM the SN is 22467. I was sure I was reading the sequence right in the Blue Book. I must really be getting old. I can check with the auctioneer, but supposedly the rifle has been in the family as "Grandpa’s forever". I also bid on and tried to get a Browning A-5 in 16 Ga #A6925 but stopped at $275. It was a standard, Not sweet 16 and it went for 600. Way too high. Several months ago at the same auction house I got a Win Trapper 16 in barrel, 30-30 before cross-bolt safety. New -in- Box with all docs and nice box with end labels intact for $400. SN is 4 853 539. Maybe some help on that one too. Thanks.

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October 22, 2013 - 5:38 pm
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I will try to have some pics up by tomorrow. I have it completely disassembled and will take photos of the parts individually. The finish does appear to be factory applied.

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October 22, 2013 - 10:05 pm
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I have posted 18 photos of the M-71. I can’t seem to load them on this forum, so they are on Gunboards, under Winchesters and Leveraction. Should be the 1st topic has 9 pics and post # 8 or 9 has 9 more pics. I tried to load here for several hrs. but only took 5 min on GB’s

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October 22, 2013 - 10:36 pm
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You have to post the photos to a third party host like Photobucket and then link to them. I tried to look at the photos on the gunboard but I couldn’t see them, I guess you have to be signed in.

Bob

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October 23, 2013 - 11:01 am
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WSMRTO:

There is a terrific 10 page article in the current issue of "The Winchester Collector" entitled "Winchester Model 71 – Review & Analysis" that is being mailed to WACA members as I type. You will receive a copy if you join WACA or you can buy a copy from the Executive Secretary by e-mailing her at [email protected]

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October 23, 2013 - 12:00 pm
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I would like to join and will ASAP. Right now my concern is with the M-71 I have now; as to properly classify it, clean the decades of dust and grime off which includes the slopped on brown paint brushed onto the beautiful wood of the buttstock (the handguard is beautiful), and return all the parts back to the correct configuration. I am OK at this with my books, but this is a humdinger. I really don’t like the use of "Photobucket" as it is just extra layers of difficulty. I have had and still have several nice Wins that I shoot or are still NIB.

I have just joined the WACA and look forward to learning much about Winchester and Brownings.

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October 23, 2013 - 12:52 pm
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wsmrto,

Welcome to the WACA ❗

I am the culprit who wrote the Model 71 article that Rick mentioned. If you would like to discuss your rifle, send me a PM or an email message.

Bert

WACA 6571L, Historian & Board of Director Member
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October 23, 2013 - 2:11 pm
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I agree about the photobucket( being not too swift with computers) am looking forward to being able to directly attach a photo file from my computer with the post. Then I will get a new camera. I see on other sites the photobucket pics expire after a period of time .I suspect that they give you a free trial , and then want you to pay to use it as a stepping stone ?

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October 24, 2013 - 6:32 am
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25-20 said
I agree about the photobucket( being not too swift with computers) am looking forward to being able to directly attach a photo file from my computer with the post. Then I will get a new camera. I see on other sites the photobucket pics expire after a period of time .I suspect that they give you a free trial , and then want you to pay to use it as a stepping stone ?

I have been using photobucket for at least 2 years and they have never tried to get me to switch to one of the paid accounts.

Paul

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October 24, 2013 - 8:44 am
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I’d have to see that 71 in hand. From the photos the receiver looks like bare metal (no finish) that has been polished up. I could be wrong, though.

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October 24, 2013 - 3:42 pm
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I want to stress that I have serious consideration of the many opinions that the finish currently is NO finish //polished bare metal is probably correct. However the amazing fact is the rest of the action is the same with some wear through on the bottom inside of the lever and some scratches in common places of the bright flats of the receiver. I am currently cleaning it and should have it wiped down in just a day or so. I also admit the buttstock has uneven brown paint just poured on it and even brush-strokes visible. I am removing the paint with Denat Alcohol, with some success without maiming the beautiful wood underneath. I can only express that it is still a Winchester Model 71 in 348, with a very nice bore. The fact is that a previous owner had it for ??? years and did not respect the soul and beauty of the rifle. Now, it is up to me to insure it is cleaned up and given a new life and home, for the time I have it.

I will continue to up-date on this and respectfully accept any Advice, comments in information from such a knowledgeable group. Thanks, wsmrto

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October 24, 2013 - 8:55 pm
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Three questions for you;

1. What is the barrel length?

2. Is the muzzle face flat or crowned?

3. Are the stocks plain or checkered?

Bert

p.s. I applaud your efforts thus far to revitalize that old Winchester rifle!

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October 24, 2013 - 10:10 pm
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Burt: The barrel is exactly 20 inches. The muzzle is flat perfectly with no bevels or edging or crown. The stock is checkered on butt and hand guard exactly as on the many Deluxe mdl 71’s shown on the many dealers on the links and members of this website. I think the pic of the front sight I have provided above shows this is a short barrel. I have removed the brown splotched paint from the buttstock, will use 4xxxx steel wool and BLO to hand rub as many coats as it needs. The Hand guard is very nice and just needed wiping down with minwax to bring out that satin luster.The barrel has been partially reblued, with good original blue still under the handguard. Actually, I almost bet the brown paint on the butt was what looked like old army brown boot dye and liquid polish from WW2 period or just thereafter. Also in the estate was an old pre-war Browning A-5 standard ( not sweet sixteen) in 16 GA. Also had a sloppy paint job on Stock. My hunting partner got a very nice old Franchi SXS that has been reasonably taken care of.

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October 28, 2013 - 1:14 pm
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Well, I have taken this rifle apart pin by pin. This is going to be hell to get back together again. Worse than Humpty Dumpty!! I spent two or three hours each night over the weekend just to put the bolt mounted peep together and back into the bolt; tiny little springs and pins.
So my ??s Why would anyone purchase a fine and expensive rifle, one of the best of the day, and proceed to scrape and polish off the factory blue finish to include the tiny small parts such as the bolt mounted peep and bolt and trigger parts. On the barrel and mag tube the bluing is fading quite a lot, there is very good blue left under the handguard. Also the bolt face and bore is about perfect. The rifle has been carried much, shot little. The previous owner was a self-made Polish gentleman who never let go of his accumulations. I guess the winters he had nothing to do but sit by the fire and steel wool away the bluing on this old gal.

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October 31, 2013 - 3:07 pm
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I have accepted the fact this is a mess and I can not attempt to do any cold blue to it. It needs a full restoration of the metal to what came out of the factory in 1946. I have contacted RGS as a possible for restoration. They seem to know what they’re doing. but are backed up over 1 year and are a little expensive. OK, you get what you pay for. Is there any other Good Reputable winchester restorers I should contact that do an honest good job and for reasonable cost.

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