Blue Ridge Parson said
And I would love to see some pictures of your 54 Sniper. The only one I ever saw in the flesh was in the collection of Lewis Yearout here in Montana. He had a number of very rare Winchester 54 rifles.BRP
Curious if Lewis Yearout’s 54’s burned in his house fire? I saw his R.H. Ruana knife collection being refinished at the shop in Bonner a long time back after the fire… sorry for the bunny trail off the OP…
November 5, 2014
Hi Blue Ridge-
Do you mean the M54 “Sniper’s Rifle” or “Sniper’s Match Rifle”??? I’ve only ever run across (3) of the Sniper’s Rifles (in any context), and only (1) of them was completely “as-issued”. The latter is in a well-known collection and I once had the chance to see it first-hand… Priceless…
If you meant the (somewhat less rare) M54 Sniper’s Match (predecessor to the M70 Bull Gun), here are a few pics. These are not of Tom’s rifle, but this one is in David Bichrest’s book.
The last pic is interesting (to me)… The M54 Sniper’s Match had a 26″ extra heavy barrel contour, same as the M70 Bull Gun except for length. From left to right, the pic shows a M70 1st variation Target Model in 220 SWIFT (26″ medium heavy barrel – itself a rare gun), the M54 Sniper’s Match (26″ Extra Heavy), and a pre-war M70 Bull Gun (28″ Extra Heavy)…
If you meant the M54 “Sniper’s Rifle” then I apologize for misunderstanding… I don’t have one…
As for the Wimbledon boxes, they turn up fairly often in Ward’s Auctions, and a couple were sold recently in a Redding’s Auction. They are out there… At least (2) versions differing in the corporate address at the bottom.
Best,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 5, 2014
Hi Clarence-
That’s NOT the way I was taught to rig/use the M1907 sling and NOT the way it’s demonstrated in WWII vintage training films I’ve seen on-line. But Winchester catalogs show M1907 slings rigged so many ways that it makes you wonder…
It is a COOL box though!!! I only have one of them… The pic I posted was one I’d saved from a Ward’s Auction listing, not the one I’ve got…
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Definitely not a snipers match. This rifle is a true sniper rifle, will take pictures and try to post tomorrow. This was one of the last rifles I forwarded information to David Bichrest before he passed away and is circa 1929 .David felt that due to condition of gun it was advisable not to check barrel date as screws on gun are pristine and show no screwdriver marks.[Image Can Not Be Found]Have Never submitted photos may need help. These are notes from David
Lewis Yearout’s rifle, which I saw, was a Sniper’s Match rifle. He also had several Model 54 Super Grade rifles in various calibers. When he died, all his rifles went to his son, Leyton Yearout. Many very rare rifles in the Lewis & Leyton Yearout collection were indeed lost in the house fire that claimed Leyton Yearout’s life. Leyton had a storefront in Great Falls, but he kept many personal guns at his home, which were indeed lost.
BRP
November 5, 2014
Tom-
That’s OUTSTANDING!!! The only M54 Sniper’s Rifle I’ve seen in person is Wayne Miller’s, which is also in Bichrest’s book. I look forward to photos… The latest version of David’s survey that I’ve seen (later than the book but not his final update) only listed (3) Sniper’s Rifles (S/Ns 17101, 21425A, and 21443A).
I’m sure you know, but for anyone who may not, Marc Murphy has taken over David’s M54 survey work to build on the existing database. Anyone wanting to add to the survey should contact Marc.
Clarence-
The M54 Sniper’s Rifles were supposedly hand built in whatever 1920’s specialty shops preceded the later Custom Shop. All hand smoothed, lapped barrels, etc. By contrast, the Sniper’s Match (1935-1936) retailed for “only” $111.00. I don’t suppose that the price of the Sniper’s Rifle helped sales…
Thanks,
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said
The M54 Sniper’s Rifles were supposedly hand built in whatever 1920’s specialty shops preceded the later Custom Shop. All hand smoothed, lapped barrels, etc. By contrast, the Sniper’s Match (1935-1936) retailed for “only” $111.00. I don’t suppose that the price of the Sniper’s Rifle helped sales…
Got to be the highest priced gun Win ever catalogued, excluding only full-coverage engraved models, in relative dollars, of course. Think price of hand-smoothed, star-gauged, Springfield Sporter at same time was about $75, or under a $100 for sure.
November 5, 2014
Tom-
It appears that Joe Salter has one of the 1936 Wimbledon boxes. Of course he wants $295.00 USD for it which seems a little pricey to me…
https://shop.joesalter.com/winchester-wimbledon-cup-c1936c-box-model-54-call-out-20-rounds-ammo
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 5, 2014
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
November 5, 2014
Tom-
WOW!!! I LIKE IT!!!
The M54 “Sniper’s Rifle” and “Deluxe Heavy Barrel” are two reasons I’ve never gotten interested in trying to seriously collect the Model 54. I’m the sort that would have to have at least one of each cataloged style, and those two are IMPOSSIBLE…
Are there limitations on shipping live vintage ammunition from the US into Canada? I ask only b/c you inquired about finding an empty Wimbledon box. I’ll keep an eye out, of course, but the ones I’ve run across have been full…
THANK YOU for the photos… Makes my Day!!!
Lou
WACA 9519; Studying Pre-64 Model 70 Winchesters
Louis Luttrell said I believe that these match cartridges with 180 grain full patch boat-tail bullets were loaded to a longer OAL than the standard 30 GOV’T’06 ammunition of the day (???).
Lou, Were the Win & Western ammo factories still operating independently in ’36, if you know? The ’36 Wimbledon was won by a service shooter using “hand-loaded” Western ammo, rifle unidentified. That target shown on the Win box is identical to the one shot by the winner. (Out of the 20 competitors, only 3 were civilian.)
Louis Luttrell said
Hi Chuck-I believe that these match cartridges with 180 grain full patch boat-tail bullets were loaded to a longer OAL than the standard 30 GOV’T’06 ammunition of the day (???). My box is (now) sealed in shrink wrap and I can’t check without opening it.
Lou
That makes sense. Often match ammo is loaded to be in the lands.
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