This one of the main reasons I keep coming back and staying active on the WACA Forum.

Nice job gentlemen! 

Tony

stavok said
Thanks for the responses- most appreciated!  All the best!
  

Your welcome, James.

Somthing else that must be considered, this was made at the height of the Great Depression!  Everyone was cutting corners and "just doing what it took to get bye".  RDB

rogertherelic said
Just checked both of the sling's adjusting hooks with a maganet.  Both the brass colored hooks and the silver colored hooks are magnetic!  That would mean the brass colored hooks were brass plated steel.  Perhaps both slings are counterfeit?  That may be a possibility.  If so, I been dupped again! RDB
  

Not likely. If they're early postwar, who knows. If anybody got duped it was Winchester. But,  if we could bring Edwin Pugsley back to life,  first words out of his mouth would be, "Winchester was not in the business of selling to collectors."  

WRACO, like everybody else in the business, would have eaten a dead rat sandwich to get raw materials for product to make and sell to the hordes of postwar customers clamoring for manufactured goods. 

Brass plated - what's not to like? Stand aside, please. 

What you've run into with the Model 71 is a facet of Winchester collecting - there are certain icons.  The Model 71 and its predecessor, the Model 1886, were not produced in great numbers because they were designed for an Era that was already passing away. However, the originals and the more numerous reproductions made by Miroku and branded as Brownings and now Winchesters,  all sell steadily and not cheaply. They are expensive to make, even with CNC machinery, which can only do so much. There's a lot of steel in an 86 and the 71. 

The Model 52 Sporting Rifle and the Model 21 shotgun are likewise iconic, were low production items, and now have a similar price floor.  

By comparison to the Winchester Models 97, 12, 90, and especially the 94 and 70,  the icon models were made in small numbers, probably because they were so expensive to make and very costly to buy. 

For example, a Model 52 Sporting Rifle was by far the most expensive rimfire rifle in the 1957 Gun Digest. It set a man back the same money that would buy a Model 70 Super Grade. 

Collectors like the Winchester 63 automatic but check the retail on a brand new one in 1955,  compared to a Model 62. The difference would (and did) make many a union machinist or boilermaker, shopping for his boy's Christmas, pause and think. Production numbers bear this out. 

When chasing restorable Winchesters, go for the high production models and leave the icons to the elephants.  

Zebulon said
Adam, a grand is about what that rifle was worth to a dealer for parts. 
Roger,  I think both slings - white and yellow -are likely Winchester products. The white one was because the actual maker had it on hand. If it was made up after WWII,  strategic metals were hard to come by. Folks were standing in line to buy a refrigerator, much less a car. 
I'd guess the white metal is brass plated for some wartime purpose. WRACO was likely not in a position to turn it down. I'd be surprised if it were aluminum. 
All this lets me know what to look for if I wanted to put a sling on my 71 or 64. So far, not. 
  

I have all my grandfathers license plates and the ones during the war years are Masonite or something close.

 I wouldn’t spend that much money for a gun I’m going to have to work on.    If I can get rifle under 800 or a shotgun under 600, I’m interested. If they need some work, I’m going to learn something. Working on the old guns is just my cathartic hobby.  

Roger,  I think both slings - white and yellow -are likely Winchester products. The white one was because the actual maker had it on hand. If it was made up after WWII,  strategic metals were hard to come by. Folks were standing in line to buy a refrigerator, much less a car. 

I'd guess the white metal is brass plated for some wartime purpose. WRACO was likely not in a position to turn it down. I'd be surprised if it were aluminum. 

All this lets me know what to look for if I wanted to put a sling on my 71 or 64. So far, not. 

Jeremy Scott. said
Your carbine was shipped from the factory on april 20th 1885 to order number 20202.
The LOF stamping is correct .
In August 1916 the Royal North west Mounted Police loaned 710 carbines to the Edmonton Battalion of reserve Militia -LOF Legion of frontiersmen.  
In January of 1919 the Alberta provincial police purchased those 710 carbines for $1100
Not all the carbines purchased by the Alberta provincial police were stamped. 
Your carbine is one of those.
Hope this helps. 
  

Stavok ( James),

There you have it. You were definitely ripped off and this rifle isn’t worth it. However, since you know I too bought rifles in this auction I will just pick it up for you so you don’t lose more money on gas driving in to buy such a lousy rifle! 😀 I’m kidding of course as I think Jeremy confirmed you got a great deal on a great rifle! Congrats my friend!

The LOF stamping is correct .

In August 1916 the Royal North west Mounted Police loaned 710 carbines to the Edmonton Battalion of reserve Militia -LOF Legion of frontiersmen.  

In January of 1919 the Alberta provincial police purchased those 710 carbines for $1100

Not all the carbines purchased by the Alberta provincial police were stamped. 

Your carbine is one of those.

Hope this helps.