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Thanks Bert
I would LOVE to have one but if one came up it would probably be out of my snack bracket , but wouldnt it be a nice choice ??
Surprised it was offered in catalogs and surprised there wasnt a few more takers , Im sure there would be a wait and this always hurt sales.
(im sure dealers would also talk you into what they had available and easy for themselves too) I know I am impatient and always want an item ASAP.( I wouldnt have been a candidate for special order with un known delivery ) and I think a hunter of any era would be pumped to get the gun in time for try-out before season
Phil
Phil,
For the benefit of those who can not read the WACA Collector magazine articles available to members, this is a scanned copy of the 1938 Salesman catalog.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Understand Burt. Perhaps to ‘have’ such a chambering as .33 Win in a catalog. But in those days of yore, how for the average sportsman even to know… or evaluate. The real drumbeat undoubtedly for the ‘new & improved cartridge, the .348 and in that to springboard. Such to contrast it with all prior offerings. Not to suggest a sibling! That ‘contrast’ to the past, likely a material selling point.
Then back to the power of advertising… in the negative as in NOT! Other than what showed up in a sporting journal or perhaps the American Rifleman (which then was pretty dry; mostly ‘club’ and competition news) little publicity at all. The New Deal generation were buying what they could see, touch, hold and examine. The idea of ordering a rifle from half way across the nation… About like speaking of moon rocks for most ordinary folks. Products sold ‘in hand’.
Just furthering my conclusion that Winchester itself did-in it’s own great product. The other matter may have been price point. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could comment on such as between perhaps the 94, 64 and even Model 70. (note all those in multiple chamberings) AND many such cartridges easily available in hundreds of local locations. .
Well, getting redundant and other’s before me offering the central points.
Winchester’s admen appearing to welcome the Model 71 with all the gusto of receiving a relative arriving at the door… with luggage! 🙂
A big thanks Burt for your stats compilation endeavor! A sad fascinating story, the 71! To wonder what might have been!
Just a ‘wordy’ take!
Price an issue .I think someone has mentioned WW 2 milsrp guns as competitors but I just want to say , that in Canada there was a huge glut of sporterized bolt action Lee Enfield rifles in 303 British ( similar to 30-40 US) selling for $8. (premium models $10 ) They were stacked in large steel barrels in Sears and sold like hotcakes All my relatives were buying them for Deer rifles. they were considered adequate for Moose and Bear too , These men had all been in the War , used these guns , were familiar and confident in them , but price was the deciding factor.
also millsurp practice ammo almost free
When I was a kid I had a penchant for collecting cartridges casings so I went around to all the Deer Camps , Gravel pits sight in spots and got my Dad to show me the popular Deer runs crossing the dirt roads where hunters hid in wait for animals crossing. More than half of all casings I found were 303 British signifying the abundance
Since the Mod 71 was the highest priced competitor , and significantly higher in price ( about 4 x higher ?) All sporting model sales suffered but the 71 most of all
I bet similar story in US with your milsurp 30-06’s ?
Bert , nice scanned copy of the 1938 Salesman catalog.Thanks
Forgot to say that a friend who used to frequent various gunstores in the 60’s , noticed unsold Model 71’s languishing in the racks for around $60 …… oh to go back in time
Phil
I think you hit it on the head..journalistic influence.
6.5x’06 never had a chance when “someone” touted the 270
44
XLIV said
I think you hit it on the head..journalistic influence.
6.5x’06 never had a chance when “someone” touted the 270
44
I do not believe that is a good comparison. Winchester and various Sports writers began touting the 270 WCF cartridge long before anyone ever thought of creating 6.5-06 wildcat cartridge. Additionally, I believe that the 264 Win Mag had more to do with lack of popularity for the 6.5.06.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Perhaps not exactly, however since the 6.5×06 predates the 270 an observer at that time would perhaps view the later as a well publicized “wildcat”. ( hint 30×03. 256 Newton, etc)
just sayin..magazines sell
44
Please tell me of your US WW 2 milsurp sales that would compete with sporting rifles for purchase for hunting. Did you have the same situation as in Canada Glut , Huge quantities dumped ? cheap price around $8 ?
Thanks
Phil
25-20 said
Please tell me of your US WW 2 milsurp sales that would compete with sporting rifles for purchase for hunting. Did you have the same situation as in Canada Glut , Huge quantities dumped ? cheap price around $8 ?
Thanks
Phil
We had 1917’s galore but the best bargain was still the .303 SMLE. I have one from a barrel at Sears purchased in the mid-sixties. It was about $15 if I recall correctly. It was $5 cheaper than the 1917’s in the adjacent barrel and ammo was MUCH cheaper. It is a Savage Mk 4 marked “U.S. Property” and of course now wish I hadn’t sporterized it 40+ years ago but I sure got my $15 worth of fun out of it and still shoot it today. The .303 is a very accurate cartridge.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
RE the milsup equation, 25-20 check this out… & enjoy!
https://gunsmagazine.com/classic-guns-magazine-editions/
I was a teen in those mid fifties and by 1961, then an NRA (gift of father – Life) Member, acquired a DCM Model 1903A3, of which I ‘sporterized’ with hand-sawn stock in true Bubba-esque fashion. (“Oh Tempora, Oh Mores”!) Yet also by then firmly in the economic ranks of many milsup fans. Such for whom even a used Winchester highpower rifle of any model, an extravagance!
Such as a Model 71 with only factory ammo available (and not a handloader), a double whammy. Such moving toward ultra-extravagance compared to abundant and cheap milsup stuff!
A not uncommon formula: milsup + surplus ammo = in-budget. 🙂
Of such era…
A personal take
iskra said
RE the milsup equation, 25-20 check this out… & enjoy!
GREAT Link! I remember some of those magazine covers and looking forward to browsing them again. Thanks for posting!
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
Thanks for info guys and indeed what a great link cant wait to get time to get into this a ton of great info and reading
Phil
Im really enjoying the link The ads are fantastic. On initial impression that US had a huge selection of Milsurp offerings from different countries.
Not seeking any out up here ,I am only familiar with our cheap , crudely sporterized 303’s at $8 -$10 ,late 50’s , there seemed to be one in every household
I have my Uncles , my brother has my Dad’s ,Both being frugal , They came from the $8 Barrel
They both loaded the clip with a ‘good’ Dominion hunting soft point on top , the rest filled with the surp ammo, the theory being once the deer was running it wasnt worth wasting good ammo on. ( they grew up in Depression era)
(they would not be customers for a Mod 71)
But they thought they had to be the best thing on earth because the army had used them ,they were better than their shotguns with buck shot , They were good shots , my Dad competed successfully in the Army , with marksmanship medals to prove , probably with a similar gun. Deer were plentiful , and they , and like minded Buddys in camp got their quota every year (one had a pre WW1 8mm Lebel)
our neighbor had a jungle carbine 303 , and as he was more affluent , and avid than most , assume it was more money.He also had a mod 92 Winchester carbine, bought for $10 at a garage sale, that fascinated me much more than milsurp stuff and got me going
Sorry I misrepresented myself earlier when I vowed not to get into any long winded stuff ,my initial intention , but apparently cant help myself, but will stop now
I havent seen Win prices in the mags yet, I have been looking online for 50’s Winchester catalogs to compare prices at that time but can only find catalogs for sale
anyone have a link for a 50’s Win catalog with prices for c/f rifle models ?
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