January 26, 2011

Steff
My vote is no. I don’t see anything about it that looks correct. The checkering is wrong, the cheek piece is not the shape I’ve seen before, and the fore end length is too short. I’m curious if the barrel has another dovetail underneath where the original cap attached or does it have an incorrect barrel too?
~Gary~
January 26, 2011

I wouldn’t waste my time on it. The pistol grip stock is also something of concern since the rifle should have been a straight grip. I suppose you could stretch your imagination and assume it was a special order deluxe pistol grip 53 that ended up with different wood on it. Just too many issues to even consider it, in my opinion.
~Gary~
Steff,
Model 53 rifles did not have cut off magazines with flat end caps and a magazine retaining ring on them. My guess is that the receiver and magazine may be from a late Model 92 and that the wood and barrel are non original.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
I like the fact that it is a .44-40. Most M53’s a person runs across are in .25-20 or .32-20. I find the .44-40 darn desirable in the M53. I have never owned a M53 in .44-40. I agree this rifle is not original so of course it is not a rifle for a collector. However many of us collectors are also shooters and hunters so a rifle such as this can have its place. As a hunter/shooter, I find it has appeal. By the way, there are many ways this rifle may have been altered, but I will weigh-in and say the receiver blue is original.
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