450 Fuller said
Bert:

Excuse the delay. M 71-6749 has a capped pistol grip. It has all the attributes of a Special excluding checkering.

It also has a 98 a bolt peep with Marbles fold-down 95 rear sight.

I have another  M-71 history item: it is No. 1334, possibly late 1935-early 1936 production. Flat uncrowned muzzle.

A Standard grade but with 98a bolt peep. No provision for SG sling swivels. This rifle originated in Knox County, Illinois

with an owner named Barnes. His name is etched on the receiver. The rifle is now owned by a retired Danish banker in  Northern Denmark.

He is a WACA member, I believe. You may know of this rifle or its owner.

I have owned  pre-war Standard Grade Model 71s with Special attributes like sling swivel FE caps , capped pistol grips, and special sights. Less Special features on later rifles, but checkering seems to be the dividing line on Standard vs Special/Deluxe variants. Assembly of the pre-war rifles must have been interesting at New Haven. All of the pre-war and some 1940s rifles seem to feature 1886 -styled checked early hammers.

Ridge

Ridge,

S/N 477 was the final Model 71 manufactured in the year 1935.  S/N 1334 was manufactured 3/17/1936.

The primary difference between a Standard Rifle and a Special Rifle is the physical shape (contour) of the butt stock pistol grip. The Special was specifically shaped to install a grip cap whereas the Standard was not.  That aspect remained true for pre & post war production rifles.  99. 9% of the Specials were made with checkered stocks… the Standards were not.  If a customer requested a Model 71 with checkered stocks, they got a Special.  When you encounter a Standard with checkered stocks, it is 100% aftermarket work.

The QD sling bases and mounts were standard on the Special (but could have been omitted on special order).  Conversely, 98% of the Standards did not have QD sling mounts, but they could have been installed on special order.

From 1935 through 1946, the No. 98A bolt peep was the standard rear sight, with the No. 22-K sight being a lower cost option.  A much higher percentage of the Specials were equipped with the No. 98A versus the 22-K, and there were more Specials manufactured and sold than Standards. The No. 98A was replaced by the Lyman No. 56 in the post-war years.  In the pre-war years, Winchester would (on special order) install a Redfield receiver sight (I have 116) documented in my survey).

In regard to the hammers, the pre-war rifles all have the knurled style hammer found on the late production Model 1886 rifles. In the year 1948, the serrated hammers became the standard. 

Bert

M. Feketi said
Hello Bert

You may or may not have this Model 71 in your survey. S/N 7044. Purchased this several years ago on Gunbroker. Brief history: owners farther bought it new. Took it to Canada and shot a huge black bear in his camp. Returned to his Ohio home and shot a few deer from his porch. Shot very little if ever after that. I’ve reloaded some new Hornaday cases over the years and manage to shot an elk here close to home in Wyoming. Have “retired” rifle now. Unable to post pics.

I do not have it (yet) documented in the survey.  I have a few questions;

1. Barrel length (24″ or 20″)?

2. Variation (Special or Standard)?

3. Rear sight configuration (22-K or No. 98A bolt peep)?

4. Can you send pictures to my email?

Bert – [email protected]

Wyatt said
Hello Bert,

I have two Model 71’s for your survey. Details on both are below.

Model 71 Special Configuration, Rifle with 98A Bolt Peep, Serial Number 25,136

Model 71 Special Configuration, Rifle with 56a Peep sight, Serial Number 27,054

Regards,

Wyatt

A few questions;

S/N 25136 was manufactured very late in the year 1947, and during the transition for several features.  Does it have a Type 1 barrel address or Type 2?  Uncrowned or crowned muzzle? Receiver drilled & tapped for peep sight?

Thanks,

Bert

Wyatt said
Bert,

Quick correction, I mis-typed the serial number is 25,186 not 136. (Original post corrected).

Type-1 Barrel address I believe (See pic)

Muzzle is crowned 

Not drilled & tapped for peep sight. 

Wyatt

Yes, it is a Type 1 barrel.

Thanks,

Bert

Paul H said
Hey Bert I’m not sure but what these two might already be in your surveys. I haven’t owned them for very long

a Model 71 standard rifle serial 9270 with the 98a bolt peep 

Also:

a 94/95 SRC Hybrid serial 1032277 20 inch barrel with the dovetailed front ramp

have a variety of other models that I’ll dig out and report as time allows

Thanks for all the work you do. And for being available to share your expertise.  Paul 

  

The Model 71 and the Model 94/95 hybrid are both new entries in the survey!

Can you provide pictures of both guns?

Thanks,

Bert

Paul H said
I think a valid case could be made that this 64 is unfired— I’m not forensically qualified to do any more than suggest it but there isn’t a scratch on it anywhere —the face of the bolt is clean and the action operates as close to “as new” as any any I’ve operated. It just feels and looks new.  Still has that “new car” smell.       🤠    Paul 

  

Paul,

First, thanks for posting all of the pictures

By the year 1928 (when all of the Model 94/95 hybrids were assembled), Winchester had fully reverted back to using walnut to stock the Carbines. The transition from gumwood back to walnut took place in the early months of the year 1927.

Your Model 64 Deer Rifle is interesting in that it has the older style caliber marking.  Per the Winchester PR records, s/n 1838604 was manufactured in mid January 1952.  The transition from the older “32 W.S.” caliber marking to the newer “32 WIN. SPL.” marking took place mid-year 1950 (in the 1706800 – 1707700 serial range).  I suspect that the barrel on your rifle was a left-over 1950 dated barrel. 

Interestingly, I also have Model 64 s/n 1838605 (sequential to your rifle) documented in my research survey.  It is a standard rifle with a “32 WIN. SPL.” marked barrel.  Of further note, nearly all of the Model 64 rifles manufactured from late December 1951 through January 1952 were manufactured for the 32 WIN. SPL. cartridge.  In total, I currently have (31) Model 64 .32 caliber rifles documented in the 1827713 – 1846672 serial range.

Bert

Paul H said
Thanks Bert for the reply — for some time I’ve been on the lookout for a 64 “Deluxe” or “Deer Rifle” and this one literally fell into my lap a couple weeks ago along with the 71. Already have several standard 64 rifles and a couple of the standard short barreled variety. Would like to find a 25-35 in any of the configurations. Or the proverbial Zipper if it were possible.  

Have several saddle ring carbines most of them from the gumwood era. The earliest (#41930)1894 is a 32-40 with really nice walnut wood.  And an early (#70989)1892 38-40 that has good walnut on it 

Have a lot of questions I could badger you with BUT:: Is this part of the forum the best venue for these sorts of discussions ?

Thanks again         Paul

General questions should be discussed on that forum.  Specific questions should be posted in the Winchester Rifles (or appropriate forum).

Bert