Trying to confirm some details on a model 71 carbine. Is the mussel diameter same on carbine and rifle. What should l d it measure. Is the sight ramp same length as rifle? Is rear sight dovetail same dis t acne from receiver? Been trying to study but can’t find this info. I know differences occur in model 64. Expert knowledge appreciated
antler1 said
Trying to confirm some details on a model 71 carbine. Is the mussel diameter same on carbine and rifle. What should l d it measure. Is the sight ramp same length as rifle? Is rear sight dovetail same dis t acne from receiver? Been trying to study but can’t find this info. I know differences occur in model 64. Expert knowledge appreciated
Pat – have you looked at the Bert Hartman article in the summer 2021 Collector magazine – available on-line and lots of detailed information in the article.
antler1 said
Yes. Doesn’t mention these details that I saw
Pat – I had half a dozen 71’s at one time, both rifles and carbines, and always assumed the only difference was the length of the barrel. Your question peaked my interest and took about half a bottle of Crown Royal here on a rainy Alaska night to even find anything regarding muzzle diameter. The West book, pages 56.3 thru 56.8 discusses details and says “early rifles had 24 inch long barrels, 5/8 inch diameter at the uncrowned muzzle. and 15/16 inch at the receiver”. He goes on to say”the new carbine length 20 inch barrels were available on standard and deluze guns and they measured 11/16 inch in diameter at the uncrowned muzzle”. And, he says “the front sight ramps were 2-1/2 inches long which was 1/4 inch less than those on the rifles”. If you are looking at buying a carbine, be careful and do your homework as so many have been messed with.
Chuck said
I don’t know how many volumes there are but the first ones came out about 1965. The first 2 volumes can be found for sale but are pricey.
There were at least (9) volumes, and all of them are rife with erroneous information… I certainly would not pay the current asking price for any of them today (I bought my copies in the early 1980s when they were very cheap).
9 BOOK SET OF BILL WEST WINCHESTER BOOKS. (icollector.com)
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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