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March 3, 2025
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[Image Can Not Be Found]A friend has an M71 special model he’s offered to sell to me.
The serial indicates it’s a second year of production gun. The biggest flaw I see is that the receiver has been drilled for a scope mount. The wood is OK but the checkering is becoming smooth. Normal dings and it does not look to be re-finished to my untrained eye. Wood is slightly proud of the metal.
I don’t believe it’s been re-blued as the crown is not blued and the serial number has not been blued over. After cleaning, the rifling looks strong.
Any ball park valuation would be very much appreciated!![Image Can Not Be Found]
April 15, 2005
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What is the serial number? Your pictures did not post. You can send them to me at – [email protected]
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 3, 2025
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Bert H. said
What is the serial number? Your pictures did not post. You can send them to me at – [email protected]Bert
Bert,
Thanks so much for the kind offer. I just sent an email to you with pictures of the rifle.
I’ll keep working on the picture hosting thing!
best,
Brett
April 15, 2005
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Based on the pictures you sent, the rifle is in noticeably worn condition, and the extra holes drilled & tapped in the lef side of the receiver frame for a side mount scope ruined the collector interest & value. Based on what I can see of the rifle, it is a $1,600 gun.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 31, 2012
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Bert H. said
Based on the pictures you sent, the rifle is in noticeably worn condition, and the extra holes drilled & tapped in the lef side of the receiver frame for a side mount scope ruined the collector interest & value. Based on what I can see of the rifle, it is a $1,600 gun.Bert
Bert, isn’t that a little much for a Swiss Cheesed rifle? M71’s are a hard sell, and one with holes? Maybe $400. Big Larry
March 3, 2025
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Big Larry said
Bert H. said
Based on the pictures you sent, the rifle is in noticeably worn condition, and the extra holes drilled & tapped in the lef side of the receiver frame for a side mount scope ruined the collector interest & value. Based on what I can see of the rifle, it is a $1,600 gun.
Bert
Bert, isn’t that a little much for a Swiss Cheesed rifle? M71’s are a hard sell, and one with holes? Maybe $400. Big Larry
Thanks so much, gentlemen. Great to avoid a train wreck.
Best,
Brett
April 15, 2005
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Big Larry said
Bert H. said
Based on the pictures you sent, the rifle is in noticeably worn condition, and the extra holes drilled & tapped in the left side of the receiver frame for a side mount scope ruined the collector interest & value. Based on what I can see of the rifle, it is a $1,600 gun.
Bert
Bert, isn’t that a little much for a Swiss Cheesed rifle? M71’s are a hard sell, and one with holes? Maybe $400. Big Larry
No, it is definitely not a $400 rifle! The No. 98A bolt peep sight that is on that rifle is worth $750 all by itself. Hunters up in Canada and Alaska treasure the Model 71 for its potent killing capability and will pay decent money for one that still shoots good.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
August 14, 2021
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We want to see the pictures.
December 31, 2012
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What Bert says is true. Parts is parts. Here’s mine. Plain Special rifle with standard sights, amd swivels.. Early long tang. Big Larry
April 6, 2022
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Big Larry said
Bert H. said
Based on the pictures you sent, the rifle is in noticeably worn condition, and the extra holes drilled & tapped in the lef side of the receiver frame for a side mount scope ruined the collector interest & value. Based on what I can see of the rifle, it is a $1,600 gun.
Bert
Bert, isn’t that a little much for a Swiss Cheesed rifle? M71’s are a hard sell, and one with holes? Maybe $400. Big Larry
Larry,
You got any of those Swiss Cheeses for sale at $400.00 ? I’d like to purchase a couple at that price but have never seen any . I gave just a bit over that for a NOS bolt with Extractor and 98a bolt peep sight .
Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.
Grumpy old man with a gun......Do Not Touch.
December 31, 2012
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No. I would not touch a Swiss Cheeses gun for any amount of money. In my 82 years, I have learned to never buy a gun I have to make excuses for. You did great buying a peep sight for your rifle, but your gun will never be original again after installing the sight. I myself, being a collector, would never consider changing mine in any way, although I did add original swivels to it. I find these days that 100% pure guns are getting harder and harder to find. I do not actively collect Winchesters any longer. I am now into Colt semi-autos. You have to be very careful of parts swaps as they devalue the guns considerably. Big Larry
November 19, 2006
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Big Larry said
No. I would not touch a Swiss Cheeses gun for any amount of money. In my 82 years, I have learned to never buy a gun I have to make excuses for. You did great buying a peep sight for your rifle, but your gun will never be original again after installing the sight. I myself, being a collector, would never consider changing mine in any way, although I did add original swivels to it. I find these days that 100% pure guns are getting harder and harder to find. I do not actively collect Winchesters any longer. I am now into Colt semi-autos. You have to be very careful of parts swaps as they devalue the guns considerably. Big Larry
Larry –
Your display cased Colt M1911 prompted me to think about something special I have. I suspect more than a few around here are interested in Colts.
It is featured in Clive Law’s book with multiple photos. It is thought to be the prototype of the North American Arms contact production of the M1911. Actually, all the M1911’s made by NAA would be best classified as prototypes, but this is thought to be the very first pistol made in the plant. It is marked Ross Rifle Co. and 1918. The Ross Rifle Co. was out of business by 1918. NAA leased the former Ross factory and brought back several of the Ross factory employees to manufacture M1911’s. The frame is stamped, “F.P.” which would be Fred Porter who was the former Ross factory Chief Architect and was one of the former employees who came back to work for NAA. It is also stamped, “R.R. Co. Que. 1918” No other NAA pistols are known to have the Ross Rifle Co. stamping.
The serial number was applied much later, at the insistence of the Canadian Govt., when it became required that all guns have a serial number (this pistol previously had none). From a collectible perspective, that did not enhance this piece. It has also been reblued and couple minor parts have been replaced. Hence, it meets, “Swiss Cheese” status.
I don’t own this piece because I am a Colt collector, but rather a collector of Ross rifles (as was the collector I purchased it from).
December 31, 2012
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Very nice. I just bought this one. 1918 M1911. Real close to mint. No excuse pistol. Appears to be 100% original. These old Colts are getting hard to find, and are very expensive. Thanks for sharing. Big Larry
November 19, 2006
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Big Larry said
Very nice. I just bought this one. 1918 M1911. Real close to mint. No excuse pistol. Appears to be 100% original. These old Colts are getting hard to find, and are very expensive. Thanks for sharing. Big Larry
That is a nice one. I like the 1918 year of course. A collector has to (try to) limit himself but if I collected Colt handguns, I would have focused on the M1911’s. I also like the M1911 contract pistols as well such as NAA, Singer, Union Switch and Signal, etc. But of course there’s nothing wrong with the original Colts 
December 9, 2002
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I’m in agreement with Steve!
Outstanding example!
Thanks for sharing Big Larry! 
Anthony
April 15, 2005
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Well, since we are now on the topic of Colt pistols, this is my contribution to the subject…
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 31, 2009
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Did you get a discount since it went to the Navy? 
August 14, 2021
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My contribution, although not as impressive. Left is a CMP refurb, I have the arsenal shipping box with it. I can’t afford a Singer, so I gave up.
March 31, 2009
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Here is my WW I Colt.
The Army Terminal was right down the dock from the Navy’s.
April 6, 2022
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Big Larry said
No. I would not touch a Swiss Cheeses gun for any amount of money. In my 82 years, I have learned to never buy a gun I have to make excuses for. You did great buying a peep sight for your rifle, but your gun will never be original again after installing the sight. I myself, being a collector, would never consider changing mine in any way, although I did add original swivels to it. I find these days that 100% pure guns are getting harder and harder to find. I do not actively collect Winchesters any longer. I am now into Colt semi-autos. You have to be very careful of parts swaps as they devalue the guns considerably. Big Larry
All of the things you mentioned are the very reason why the Swiss Cheese is a gun I would value . I’m not a collector , I am a hunter and shooter as well as an accumulator . The Swiss Cheese that has no value to a collector is perfect for my conversion to what I feel is a gun that Winchester should have built and should still be making . Nothing I do to it will diminish the value of a collectable gun because no one collects Swiss Cheese. I would not feel the need to offer anyone an apology or excuse for the gun when it was finished to my ideal specs. It would be a 1000 % pure hunting machine which would be exactly what I want. One of Harold Johnsons rifles would not suit you at all as you would be constantly apologizing for it ,but to me it would be the absolute ultimate in a useable collectable. Different strokes .
That said I also own an unmolested 1936 long tang bolt peeped m71 standard that I would not convert .
Better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.
Grumpy old man with a gun......Do Not Touch.
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