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December 9, 2002
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I’m wishing success on this, as a great Story could be unfolding here on a pretty hard to find piece! 
Can’t wait to hear more, and hopefully see pictures!
Good Luck!
Anthony
November 7, 2015
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Anthony said
I’m wishing success on this, as a great Story could be unfolding here on a pretty hard to find piece!
Can’t wait to hear more, and hopefully see pictures!
Good Luck!
Anthony
Agreed, but I’d want someone much more knowledgeable than me to look it over before I wrote that check!
Mike
December 9, 2002
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TXGunNut said
Anthony said
I’m wishing success on this, as a great Story could be unfolding here on a pretty hard to find piece!
Can’t wait to hear more, and hopefully see pictures!
Good Luck!
Anthony
Agreed, but I’d want someone much more knowledgeable than me to look it over before I wrote that check!
Mike
Mike,
I’m sure that you’re in agreement, as Bert would be that guy! IMO!
Anthony
September 29, 2025
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I have a couple of 71s to add if you don’t already have them that I’ve picked up in Michigan over the last couple years.
SN 35802 Standard rifle, has an aftermarket Williams rear peep sight installed.
SN 35932 Standard rifle, it has checkering similiar in style to a real Special. Has aftermarket sling swivels added, Lyman 56 rear peep, and a pistol grip cap with a duck on it. I suspect someone was trying to fake a Special.
April 15, 2005
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Jared G said
I have a couple of 71s to add if you don’t already have them that I’ve picked up in Michigan over the last couple years.
SN 35802 Standard rifle, has an aftermarket Williams rear peep sight installed.
SN 35932 Standard rifle, it has checkering similiar in style to a real Special. Has aftermarket sling swivels added, Lyman 56 rear peep, and a pistol grip cap with a duck on it. I suspect someone was trying to fake a Special.
Thanks, both serial numbers are new entries in the survey, and they bring the total number documented to 3,568.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Anthony said
TXGunNut said
Anthony said
I’m wishing success on this, as a great Story could be unfolding here on a pretty hard to find piece!
Can’t wait to hear more, and hopefully see pictures!
Good Luck!
Anthony
Agreed, but I’d want someone much more knowledgeable than me to look it over before I wrote that check!
Mike
Mike,
I’m sure that you’re in agreement, as Bert would be that guy! IMO!
Anthony
I almost forgot about this story. I’m thinking no more progress on this story as of now. Mike, I agree with you as far as Bert being that guy to take a look at this rifle and verifying it. A couple things come to mind, to me on this rifle, and possible story.
I have a story to share that comes to mind on a rifle that I heard about for years, on a model 1873 src, first model rifle, that was supposed to not only be right as rain, but all original. Well, that wasn’t the case. The owner who’s in his 70’s and said he had it for a long while, swore it was a correct first model. In gun show light, it looked pretty good, in the natural light outside, sure would make a collector question it’s authenticity. Without going into a long and detailed story, and hijack this post, I passed on it, as another member who saw it, made a statement to me that I’ll never forget. Maybe he bought it 40 years ago, and just doesn’t know any better! I agree, as he surely believes that it’s right as rain. I just don’t think he knows any better. Many of us have been in this situation before!
My point is, that a lot of the so called older guys, who are casual collectors, and not the die hard true researching collectors that we find here on the WACA forum, as I do consider myself, really just don’t know any better. They didn’t have the resources that are available to us today, and many aren’t willing to do the research, or invest the time it takes. IMHO!
Until this M-71, in the .33 caliber comes to light we’ll never know! I hope it’s all correct with Bert’s blessing, and the poster gets it!
Anthony
August 8, 2024
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Bert, Model 71 Standard, SN; 21108, bolt peep, with a 22 barrel sight, 1C elevator, 103 Win silver front sight. Model 71 Special, SN; 2989, bolt peep, blank in barrel dove tail, Lyman 31 front sight. If you would like any other information on these. Then please let me know. I was wondering if you had Model 71, Standard, SN; 7443 in your survey. This rifle was used in a botched bank robbery in Midland, Mich. On Sept. 29, 1937.
April 15, 2005
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Bo Rich said
Bert, Model 71 Standard, SN; 21108, bolt peep, with a 22 barrel sight, 1C elevator, 103 Win silver front sight. Model 71 Special, SN; 2989, bolt peep, blank in barrel dove tail, Lyman 31 front sight. If you would like any other information on these. Then please let me know. I was wondering if you had Model 71, Standard, SN; 7443 in your survey. This rifle was used in a botched bank robbery in Midland, Mich. On Sept. 29, 1937.
S/N 21108 was manufactured in September 1941. Does it have a crowned muzzle, or is it flat (uncrowned)? With a No. 98A bolt peep sight it should have a blank piece in the barrel rear sight slot.
S/N 2989 was manufactured in August 1936.
I did not have S/N 7443 listed in the survey. The date of manufacture for it was November 1936, so it was a nearly new rifle when it was used for the botched bank robbery. Do you have any additional background information or photos of it?
Thanks for the survey information! 
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Bo,
You didn’t look that old when I met you at the OGCA show in September! LOL! 
Can’t wait to hear more of the story you might have!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Chebatoris
This article says a sawed off shotgun and a pearl handled pistol was used!
https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/chebatoris-anthony.htm
It surely could have been this hunting rifle that was used by Dr. Frank Hardy!
Aborting the robbery, the gunmen fled the bank, got in their black two-door Ford with Chebatoris behind the wheel, and began to drive away. Dr. Frank L. Hardy, whose second-floor dental practice was adjacent to the bank building, heard the gunshots and used a hunting rifle to fire at the getaway car from his office window as it sped south toward the Benson Street bridge out of town.[25][b] One of Hardy’s shots hit Chebatoris’s left arm; another hit Gracey’s right leg.[24] After the Ford careened into a parked car, Chebatoris and Gracey exited the vehicle, looking for the source of the shots. Truck driver Henry J. Porter of Bay City, a bystander whose cap and uniform were mistaken for those of a police officer, was shot and mortally wounded by Chebatoris. Hardy fired again, hitting Gracey in the elbow, and when Gracey tried to commandeer a truck, Hardy fatally shot him in the head from a distance of 150 yards (140 m).[24] Chebatoris fled along nearby railroad tracks and attempted to hijack an automobile, but was apprehended by road repairman Richard Van Orden and Midland County Sheriff Ira M. Smith.[24][25]
Anthony
April 15, 2005
Online
Anthony said
Bo,
You didn’t look that old when I met you at the OGCA show in September! LOL!
Can’t wait to hear more of the story you might have!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Chebatoris
This article says a sawed off shotgun and a pearl handled pistol was used!
https://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/chebatoris-anthony.htm
Anthony
The link to the Anthony Chebatoris’ execution story states that a “hunting rifle” was used by a bystander to put down his accomplice when he shot another innocent bystander while trying to hi-jacked a get-a-way car. While it does not specify what the “hunting rifle” was, I will assume that it was the Winchester Model 71 rifle in question.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 9, 2002
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Bert,
I am in agreement with you, as we were typing at the same time!
Tony
August 8, 2024
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Bert, Model 71 Standard SN; 21108 does have a crowned muzzle. I agree it should have a blank in the barrel dovetail. It appears to be a 22K rear sight with a 1 C elevator. When I bought the rifle that was how it was. With the 98A bolt peep.
Leonard Speckin told me of this Midland, Mich. botched robbery years ago. He knows more about the incident then, perhaps anybody. He told me that there is a picture of the Model 71. A Standard grade with, I think barrel sights. Now, if I remember right. Doctor Frank Hardy was crack shot in the Army. He was a Dentist that’s office was above the bank. He kept a Model 8 Remington chambered in .35 Remington. Which was the rifle that killed Jack Gracey, and wounded Tony Chebatoris. Leonard told me that the shot that killed Gracey was closer to 200 yards! After being wounded, Chebatoris saw a man wearing a badge. Thinking he was a police officer that most likely shot, and killed his partner, and wounded him. He shot, and killed the man with the Model 71. The unlucky man was not a Police officer. I think that He was a Security guard at the wrong place, and time. Chebatoris was in fact caught, and hung for his crime. The last person in Michigan to be executed. Leonard was with the Michigan State Patrol. Being hired in the late 1950s. He knew some of the Police Officers in involved in the above case. He told me that there is some errors in the story being told Today. He plans on writing on the event. That way folks will know how it really happened.
April 15, 2005
Online
Bo Rich said
Bert, Model 71 Standard SN; 21108 does have a crowned muzzle. I agree it should have a blank in the barrel dovetail. It appears to be a 22K rear sight with a 1 C elevator. When I bought the rifle that was how it was. With the 98A bolt peep.
Leonard Speckin told me of this Midland, Mich. botched robbery years ago. He knows more about the incident then, perhaps anybody. He told me that there is a picture of the Model 71. A Standard grade with, I think barrel sights. Now, if I remember right. Doctor Frank Hardy was crack shot in the Army. He was a Dentist that’s office was above the bank. He kept a Model 8 Remington chambered in .35 Remington. Which was the rifle that killed Jack Gracey, and wounded Tony Chebatoris. Leonard told me that the shot that killed Gracey was closer to 200 yards! After being wounded, Chebatoris saw a man wearing a badge. Thinking he was a police officer that most likely shot, and killed his partner, and wounded him. He shot, and killed the man with the Model 71. The unlucky man was not a Police officer. I think that He was a Security guard at the wrong place, and time. Chebatoris was in fact caught, and hung for his crime. The last person in Michigan to be executed. Leonard was with the Michigan State Patrol. Being hired in the late 1950s. He knew some of the Police Officers in involved in the above case. He told me that there is some errors in the story being told Today. He plans on writing on the event. That way folks will know how it really happened.
I would love to see the picture of that Model 71 !
I was relatively sure that S/N 21108 would have a crowned muzzle, but wanted to make sure.
Thanks again for the information and story on Model 71 from 1937.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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