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December 27, 2022
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Like many of you, I’m always looking for something interesting. I’m equally happy with lever actions as well as bolt actions, and I ran across this Model 54 in 30 WCF and noticed some very odd details (in addition to being an odd caliber).
WINCHESTER MODEL 54 PRE WAR CARBINE 30 WCF for sale (gunsinternational.com)
First is the serial number; 53259. I’ve certainly read about “clean up” guns, but I never saw a M54 with a sn this high. So when was this receiver serialized – 1942? 43?
Second, this appears to me to be a NRA Short rifle stock, available beginning 1934, but per RR, 30 WCF was not cataloged for sale after 1930.
Third, it is a nickel steel barrel, but if it is a truly late production example, as the serial number suggests, shouldn’t it be CM?
The receiver has a gas port, but there is no “A” following the serial number – ? It appears to have a two piece M70 floorplate as well.
Another strange example from a “well known” dealer. Clean up gun or cobbled together? And NOT cheap either!!
Thoughts?
November 1, 2013
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Scott M54SG said It appears to have a two piece M70 floorplate as well.
The worst fault of the 54 corrected. Either this gun or a similar one has been mentioned previously. Certainly not a 54 but a 70 with a 54 brl. (Winchester’s fault for marking the model name on the brl, rather than the rcvr, where it should be.) Can’t recall whether it was pronounced legit or not, but the seller is known to be a trickster.
December 27, 2022
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Need to make a correction, my friend Lou clarified the A suffix in a different post:
Louis Luttrell said
From various references he uses;The “A” suffix that appeared in M54 receivers around S/N 21000 referred to a change to the front edge of the extractor from rounded to squared. The latter extractor is similar to that of the M70.
December 27, 2022
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And thank you Clarence for your accurate observations. I can see now it is a M70 receiver with the improved and changed safety, hence no M54 A suffix required. So this would likely be a 1947 M70 by sn, with an earlier M54 nickel steel 30WCF barrel. So likely not a clean up gun but another cobbled together gun. What a great learning journey!
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