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I was just looking at a Winchester 71 carbine on gun auction.it is listed by jackthedog in Oregon.there are very good pictures of the gun including the serial # which is 14264 a 1938 rifle. it is a deluxe rifle with sling.the bidding is until sep 8 and is up to $2755.i have wanted one but am spent out for this year.still I thought you might enjoy.john
Esha,
It was probably a good thing you were spent out,that 71 was drilled and tapped for a receiver sight but it has a bolt peep so i believe the receiver holes are not factory.
John K
The drilled & tapped holes in the receiver are factory original. The 20-inch barreled variant (Carbine) was listed in the early catalogs as being available with a Lyman No. 56 receiver sight or a 22-K barrel sight. The No. 98A bolt-peep sight was always a special order for the Carbines.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
bert when you see a rifle like that on the web for sale with good photos especially of the serial # is there any reason why you cannot include that information in your model 71 survey.thanks john
ehsa said
bert when you see a rifle like that on the web for sale with good photos especially of the serial # is there any reason why you cannot include that information in your model 71 survey.thanks john
John,
I have already added it to my research survey. And Yes, when I find them on the internet like that rifle, I do include them in my survey. All of the information I need is readily available in the pictures.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert,
I had a slight feeling that might be the case Bert just like the 64 zippers are drilled and tapped and have the bolt peep, but those holes still would bother me, it just doesn’t look right.
John K
If the holes are factory, why don’t all carbines in this serial number range have them?
SB said
If the holes are factory, why don’t all carbines in this serial number range have them?
Because most of the Carbines in that serial number range have a 22-K rear sight.
The reality is that there is not a precise answer for why Winchester did or did not drill & tap the early production Model 71 receiver frames. Some were, and many were not. What is known, is that the Lyman No. 56W peep sight was an optional sight for nearly the entire production run.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
SB said
If the holes are factory, why don’t all carbines in this serial number range have them?
Because most of the Carbines in that serial number range have a 22-K rear sight.
The reality is that there is not a precise answer for why Winchester did or did not drill & tap the early production Model 71 receiver frames. Some were, and many were not. What is known, is that the Lyman No. 56W peep sight was an optional sight for nearly the entire production run.
Bert
If they didn’t drill and tap them for the 22 series sights, why would they have d&t’d on guns with the 98a? Probably right that there is no answer for why Winchester did what they did but if they would leave the holes off the 22-k receivers, they probably would have left them off the ones with the bolt peep.
While most 71 collectors readily accept Lyman 56’s on early guns, right or wrong, I think most tend to stay away from early guns that are d&t and have bolt peeps on them.
SB said
If they didn’t drill and tap them for the 22 series sights, why would they have d&t’d on guns with the 98a? Probably right that there is no answer for why Winchester did what they did but if they would leave the holes off the 22-k receivers, they probably would have left them off the ones with the bolt peep.While most 71 collectors readily accept Lyman 56’s on early guns, right or wrong, I think most tend to stay away from early guns that are d&t and have bolt peeps on them.
I have learned not to discount anything in regards to the rear sight configuration on a Model 71. It requires a careful examination of each gun. I do agree with your last statement, but I have seen a fair number of them that have a bolt peep and are drilled & tapped for the receiver sight.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Very few old time owners would have replaced an existing bolt peep with a receiver peep that required drilling and tapping. There is no great advantage to the receiver peep over the bolt peep so few would have changed it out. Therefore receiver holes are likely factory if they look perfect hands on.
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